The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #45928

L. Joseph Su, PHD, MPH¹, Son V. Nguyen, MS², Lan T Nguyen, BS², Peter Hinh, BS¹, Hui-Yi Lin, MPH¹, Barbara Legardeur, MPH, RD², and Richard Scribner, MD, MPH¹. (1) Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1600 Canal Street, Suite 800, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-599-1397, lsu@lsuhsc.edu, (2) Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1452 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112

The United States continues to become more ethnically diverse. Vietnamese comprise one of the fastest growing ethnic minority groups in the United States. This population has lower rates of dietary related cancer, such as cancer of breast, colorectal, and prostate, and is thought to have distinct dietary practice. However, little is known regarding life style, alcohol and tobacco use, health behaviors, and dietary habit for this population after they established their residence over the past two decades, nevertheless the changes of lifestyle compared to the tradition before their migration from their home country. This study examines dietary intakes and other health habits, such as use of alcoholic beverage and tobacco products, of Vietnamese Americans living in the metropolitan New Orleans. A convenient sample of 300 Vietnamese Americans aged 25 to 74 years is recruited for this study. The level of acculturation and health history, including three-day dietary recalls, alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking, were assessed with in-person interview. This study found that the level of acculturation is positive associated with current alcohol drinking (correlation coefficient r=0.28 p < 0.05); while tobacco cigarette smoking is inversely associated with the level of acculturation (r=-0.24, p < 0.05). Levels of physical activities and dietary patterns are also found to be associated with the degree of acculturation. The finding of this study suggests that health promotion effort may be needed to preserve the lifestyle of the immigrants for better lifestyle.

Learning Objectives:

• Provides an opportunity to understand the lifestyle change in the Vietamese immigrants based on their level of acculturation to the American community.

Keywords: Vietnam, Dietary Assessment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.