Acculturation and Health Behaviors of African Immigrants Living in the United States: An Integrative Review

Abstract

This research was conducted to identify the acculturation and health behaviors in the African Immigrant population, which is presently living in the United States. Ten studies met the criteria and included health behaviors of status, access to health care, psychiatric services, prostate cancer, morbidity and mortality, HIV knowledge and beliefs, perceptions of suicide, smoking, and obesity. Acculturation was measured using the most common social constructs that influenced the health behaviors of nativity, English (language proficiency), age at immigration, education and socioeconomic status, religion, age at immigration, and length of stay in the U.S. More research is needed to assist in prioritizing the health conditions that need intervention in serving this particular population.