Caribbean Diaspora Healthy Nutrition Outreach Project (CDHNOP): A Qualitative and Quantitative Approach to Caribbean Health

Abstract

The Caribbean Diaspora Healthy Nutrition Outreach Project (CDHNOP) aims to improve the overall health and living experience of Caribbean immigrants and their families. The Caribbean diaspora population in the United States consists of individuals who are either born in the Caribbean or are of Caribbean descent and are currently living in the United States [1]. Despite the substantial proportion of Caribbean diaspora residing in the US, especially South Florida, there is a lack of representation in national data, further exacerbated by lack of research and intervention. Through our data collection and analysis, this longitudinal research is anticipated to identify key patterns in diet & nutrition, as well as social determinants of health. Furthermore, we plan to recognize the health risks that can be acted on through effective, culturally appropriate interventions. According to Zong and Batalova, in 2014, approximately 4 million immigrants from the Caribbean resided in the United States, accounting for 9 percent of the nation's 42.4 million immigrants [1]. More than 90 percent of Caribbean immigrants came from five countries: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Haiti, and Trinidad and Tobago. The article further states that Caribbean immigrants were heavily concentrated in Florida (40 percent), New York (28 percent), and to a lesser extent, New Jersey (8 percent), according to 2010-14 ACS data. According to the Migration Policy Institute, Florida has the largest population of Caribbean immigrants in the United States [1]. A total of 1.645 million Caribbean immigrants live in Florida, representing approximately 41% of the Caribbean immigrant population in the United States. South Florida's tri-county area (Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties) is home to approximately 75% of Florida's total Caribbean immigrant population. In addition, there are an estimated 232,000 unauthorized Caribbean immigrants in the United States, with Florida

Culturally Sensitive Health Education in the Caribbean Diaspora: A Scoping Review

“…Programs that are delivered in a clinical environment by a healthcare professional and center on patient self-management education are associated with a significant positive success rate with respect to patient HbA1c levels. This finding is meaningful and correlates with data from the parent CDHNOP study that showed most of the Caribbean focus group participants obtained health information from their doctor’s office(s) [ 2 ]. In contrast, features such as interventions focused on behavior-related tasks and delivery of the intervention at a participant’s home or by a nonhealthcare professional are shown to have less influence on patient HbA1c levels.…”

“…Culturally sensitive interventions, defined in literature as processes that incorporate a specific population’s culture (e.g., norms, beliefs, values, and language), can be useful for addressing the needs of the Caribbean diaspora [ 1 ]. This scoping review is a derivative of the Caribbean Diaspora Healthy Nutrition Outreach Project (CDHNOP) research and community health initiative, which strives to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities amongst Caribbean immigrants and their families in the US [ 2 ]. The Caribbean diaspora in the United States is a very diverse population made up of people originally from the Caribbean region.…”

“…These surveys were performed to assess the effectiveness of the Caribbean-focus-group-generated culturally tailored education materials. In accordance with our aims, implementation and assessment of a community-based health behavioral modification program would be an appropriate next phase of the CDHNOP and could improve the overall health of the community, reduce the burden on the healthcare system, and eventually be applied to the Caribbean population in other regions [ 2 ].…”

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Latinx Populations in the United States: A Culturally Relevant Literature Review

“…Providing these populations with culturally tailored education on the importance of a healthier lifestyle and shaping these dietary recommendations to fit their cultural norms could potentially ameliorate the rates of T2DM. The Caribbean Diaspora Healthy Nutrition Outreach Project demonstrated that providing populations with culturally tailored nutrition education was effective at changing their food and beverage selection, specifically in Cuban and Dominican communities [ 9 ].…”

“…These disparities underline the importance of understanding the cultural considerations of T2DM in Latinx communities, including risk factors and access to care. This commentary with a modified scoping review aims to build off the existing “Caribbean Diaspora Healthy Nutrition Outreach Project (CDHNOP): A Qualitative and Quantitative Approach to Caribbean Health” [ 9 ] by further exploring the current data available on the Latinx community related to T2DM and its associated comorbidities. This manuscript is meant to provide a general overview of the literature available on these topics and discuss the need for a more inclusive, personalized, and comprehensive approach to improving the health of Latinx communities.…”