The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #62624

Gopal Narayan, MS, MPH, David Rak, MPH, and Patricia Harrison, PhD. Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support, 250 S 4th Street, Room 510, Minneapolis, MN 55415-1384

Minneapolis, MN has experienced an influx of new arrivals from other countries during the past decade. Large numbers of Hmong, Somali, and Hispanic immigrants and refugees have made the city home. This presentation highlights health status, health behaviors, and perceptions of community for immigrants compared and contrasted to their U.S.-born counterparts. Particular attention will be paid to the Latino, African, and SE Asian communities of Minneapolis. Data for this abstract were gathered from a population-based survey of adults (SHAPE 2002) in Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin County. Targets were set to ensure representation from all areas of the city, and particular attention was paid to getting sufficient responses from communities of color. In addition to English, the survey was administered in Spanish, Hmong, Somali, and Vietnamese. Compared with their U.S.-born counterparts, immigrants were more likely to report better physical and mental health; lower rates of consumption of alcohol and cigarettes; and lower levels of participation in vigorous physical activity. In the City of Minneapolis, community ratings (based on a Community-Perception Index) for new immigrants (those who arrived in the past three years) were similar to those of earlier immigrants and individuals born in the U.S. However, community ratings were lower among new arrivals living in the suburbs compared with those living in the city. Further analysis by country of origin and length of time in the U.S. will be performed to gain a better understanding of the immigrant communities in order to inform future planning efforts.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this sessionwill be able to:
• 1)Describe health status, health behaviors, and perceptions of community for immigrants compared and contrasted to their U.S.-born counterparts.
• 2)How analysis by country of origin and length of time in the U.S.help gain a better understanding of the immigrant communities in order to inform future planning efforts.

Keywords: Immigrants,

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.