Perceived and actual diabetes risk in the Chinese and Hispanic/Latino communities in Portland, OR, USA.

AIMS: The burden of diabetes is considerable for racial and ethnic minority populations in many places in the USA and worldwide, often disproportionately affecting immigrant communities. This paper reports findings from a community-based participatory research study that described diabetes risk and awareness, assessed the association between perceived and actual risk (high, two or more diabetes risk factors; low, fewer than two risk factors) and identified factors associated with disease risk among Chinese and Hispanic/Latino immigrant populations in Portland, OR, USA. METHODS: Cross-sectional, self-reported data were collected from a purposive sample of 324 Chinese (n=159) and Hispanic/Latino (n=165) adults, aged 18-86 years [mean (SD) age, 45.2(17.9) years; 50.7% women). Analyses described differences in variable distributions. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals in pooled and ethnic group-specific samples. RESULTS: Approximately 43% of participants were at high risk for diabetes, regardless of ethnicity or age. Of those unaware of their risk, or who perceived themselves not to be at risk, 25-53% had two or more risk factors (high risk); these patterns varied by ethnicity. The proportion of participants who reported two or more risk factors and were unaware of their risk status (31.8% Hispanic/Latino; 17% Chinese) or self-identified as not at risk (12.5% Hispanic/Latino; 13.0% Chinese) was substantial. Factors associated with diabetes risk also varied by ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: This study assessed the degree and determinants of diabetes risk and awareness among local Hispanic/Latino and Chinese communities and identified significant variation between groups. The results are important because they highlight substantial diabetes risk among persons who misestimate or are unaware of their risk status, regardless of ethnicity, and, in the USA, the Chinese immigrant population commonly is not considered a high-risk group for Type 2 diabetes.

[Cooperation. Education/clinical practice in primary health care, in Dakar]. / Jumelage. Education-pratique clinique en ssp, à Dakar.

Senegal recognizes universal health care for all, with health care policies that give priority to low income rural neighborhoods and maternal/child health. However, the reality is that official health care services cover only 13 per cent of the rural population. A collaborative program between the University of Montreal School of Nursing and the Centre for Higher Education in Dakar Senegal, illustrates the innovativeness of international co-operation. The goal of the program is to provide nursing education for students in primary health care and midwifery. The nursing students in this program would care for the residents of the town of Tivaouane, with emphasis on maternal/child health care. Nursing students from three schools in Dakar completed the clinical phase of the program working with health care professionals and the residents of Tivaouane. The program has four components: education, clinical, research and women's health. The education component consists of a revision of the current nursing program, a primary health care curriculum, and continuing education for instructors and health care personnel. The clinical component gives students the opportunity to provide hands on primary health care in Tivaouane. The research component includes the development of instruments to identify educational and health care needs. The fourth component includes educational activities relating to women's health.