. Payal Kahar; . Lirio K. Negroni
Volume 10, Issue 6 , June 2020, , Pages 1-8
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Latinos in the U.S., one of the fastest growing minority population, have lowhealth‑related knowledge and higher rates of diabetes and obesity.AIM: The study aims (1) ...
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BACKGROUND: Latinos in the U.S., one of the fastest growing minority population, have lowhealth‑related knowledge and higher rates of diabetes and obesity.AIM: The study aims (1) to assess health‑related knowledge levels and change in knowledge levelsafter brief educational intervention and (2) to assess undiagnosed diabetes, hypertension, andhypercholesterolemia in adult Latinos residing in Immokalee, Florida. A total of 164 participantscompleted pre–posttests while 161 participants took part in health screenings comprising bloodpressure (BP), total cholesterol (TC), blood glucose (BG), and body mass index (BMI).METHODS: Health‑related knowledge levels were assessed using 10 questions before andafter the educational intervention via face‑to face interviews. BP was measured using automatedsphygmomanometer, BG and TC were measured using lipid and glucose analyzer, waistcircumference using inch tape and BMI using digital scale. T test and Chi square were used toexamine the differences in knowledge levels and distribution of screening results across demographiccharacteristics and self‑reports respectively.RESULTS: Mean age was 40.1 ± 13.3 years; there were 77 males and 87 females. The knowledgelevels based on 10 questions increased by 1.43 (0.42) after educational sessions (P < 0.001).Participants with college degree had statistically significantly higher pre–posttest scores than thosewith no formal or less than high school education (P = 0.041). More males than females had high BPin the age groups of 18–44 and ≥45 years (P < 0.001). More males in the age group of 18–44 yearshad high TC (P = 0.024). Differences between screening results and self‑reports for diabetes and BPwere statistically significant (P < 0.001 and P = 0.01, respectively). Mean BMI was 28.5 ± 5.1 andwaist circumference was 38.6 ± 4.8 inch. Mean random and fasting BG levels and TC were higherin females than in males (P = 0.003, P = 0.022, and P = 0.004, respectively).CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights undiagnosed diabetes and hypertension in Latinos and moreLatino males than females to have hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Latinos’ vulnerability tochronic diseases and associated complications is further confounded by limited health knowledge.However, the results of the brief educational program were encouraging and have implications insetting up structured educational interventions in health clinics and migrant education programs.
