Health information-seeking behavior among Congolese refugees.

Background: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the extent to which Congolese refugees seek health information, to identify and assess the resources used while exercising Health Information-Seeking Behavior (HISB), and to identify individual determinants that affect their HISB.

Methodology: Building Bridges program participants who resided in Texas between 2017-2020, reported country of origin as Democratic Republic of Congo, and responded to HISB questions were included in this study. Four HISB questions asked about frequency seeking health information, preferred source and perceived trustworthiness of source, and frequency worrying about their health.

Alcohol use among Congolese Babembe male refugees in Tarrant County: A qualitative study.

Background: Refugees are at high risk of alcohol abuse due to experiences in their country of origin, transit camps, and in host countries. Congolese have been the largest group of refugees resettled in the US since 2016 and Babembe represent one of the largest Congolese refugee sub-groups. There is a growing body of literature highlighting substance abuse among refugees resettled in the US, but little is known about Congolese Babembe.

Willingness of a Multiethnic Immigrant Population to Donate Biospecimens for Research Purposes.

This cross-sectional study explores the willingness to donate biospecimens for research purposes among six refugee communities in North Texas (spanning Myanmar, Central Africa, Somalia, Nepal, Arabic speaking countries, and others). Participants were asked four questions about biospecimen donation: (1) previously asked to donate, (2) ever agreed to donate, (3) willingness to donate for future research, and (4) what samples they would be willing to donate. Most participants (77%) were willing to donate biosamples for medical research; 58% were willing to donate samples.

Hepatitis B Virus Awareness, Infection, and Screening Multiethnic Community Intervention for Foreign-Born Populations.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a potentially deadly viral infection that can lead to liver cancer. Many refugee immigrants resettled in the US come from countries known to have a high prevalence of HBV infections. Unfortunately, most infected refugee immigrants are unaware of their HBV status.

What About Mom? Health Literacy and Maternal Mortality.

This study examined health literacy of postpartum education materials assessing readability, understandability and cultural sensitivity using common health literacy measures. Materials examined rated poorly on measures of health literacy and cultural sensitivity using evidence-based measures including the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT), Fry-based Readability and National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS). Findings suggested a need for health literate and culturally sensitive postpartum education.

Uptake of cancer screenings among a multiethnic refugee population in North Texas, 2014-2018.

Background: Refugees are less likely than US born populations to receive cancer screenings. Building Bridges is a community health worker prevention program designed to increase refugee's cancer screening uptake. The purpose of this cross sectional analysis was to assess differences in uptake of cervical, breast, liver, and colorectal screens across six cultural groups.