| Sumario: | Research on African Americans in the United States assumes a native population and greater cultural homogeneity than exists. African immigrants, especially those with limited English proficiency, seem to be an invisible minority in research initiatives. We chose to study African immigrants because it is necessary to understand the cultural resources and practices of this population if public policies and programs are to address effectively the problem of health disparities. The present paper reports on a pilot study that focuses on the health and nutrition of children in French-speaking African immigrant families. We explored children's health implications of nutrition, parents' concern with health issues, social networks, and patterns of health service utilization. Ethnographic interviews were conducted with 14 families in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. Preliminary findings suggest little concern for the relationship between food consumption patterns and children's health or the family's health overall. With few exceptions, culture, rather than nutrition or health considerations, dictates what the family eats and how it is prepared. Insurance coverage and eligibility for health benefits are the principal barriers to health care. In this report, we also discuss expansion and replication of such studies for other cultural groups. This kind of knowledge is invaluable for developing culturally competent methodologies and for implementing and evaluating culturally sensitive community intervention programs. Children in immigrant families are the fastest growing population of children in the United States (Research Forum 2002; FAIR 2001). The Urban Institute (2002) reports that welfare reform is reducing immigrant children's access to vital social and health services. Those with limited English proficiency are the most vulnerable (Zimmerman and Fix 1998; Fix and Passel 1999). For example, only half of the children receiving Medicaid saw a dentist in 2001, but only 30 percent of Black and Hispanic children saw a dentist in that year. In addition, more than one-third of America's children lack proper immunizations (AHRQ 1999 and 2001). These reports point to a need for studies that focus on the health disparities of children, especially those in immigrant families. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.
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