Health of Immigrant and Border Communities

In his introduction for his brother President Kennedy's 1964 book titled A Nation of Immigrants, Robert Kennedy noted the significant contributions made by immigrants to American life as well as to that of many other countries. He highlighted the "fruitful interplay between immigrants and the nation[s] they adopted" as well as the need to improve immigration polices so that immigrants have a fair and full opportunity to live healthy and productive lives.1 This quest continues to this day in which the United States and many other countries around the world are trying to integrate immigrants into their society and communities in these times of great political, social, and economic strife and with varying degrees of success.

Over the past 50 years, worldwide, it is estimated that there are approximately 191 million immigrants of whom 115 million live in developed countries. In addition, estimates suggest that 20% of the immigrants live in the United States accounting for 13% of its population, 33% live in Europe, and overall 75% of the immigrants live in 28 countries around the world. Women constitute half of all the immigrants.2 The impact of immigrants on their adopted countries continues to be felt in the economic, political, social, cultural, and policy-based arenas with increasing negative perceptions, attitudes, and stereotyping during economic downturns when immigrants become "scapegoats" of the collective anxiety and fears of people. On the other hand, during economic upturns, countries have acknowledged the contributions of immigrants, often in fundamentally changing and enhancing their character, priorities, policies, and accomplishments.

The presence of immigrants has forced their adopted countries to begin to examine the social conditions that immigrants encounter, their health status, access, availability, affordability, and disparities in their health care, and the relevance and need for educational and prevention strategies that are culturally competent. Through such an examination, countries can start to contribute positively and effectively to the health and well-being of their immigrant and border communities.

This special issue is dedicated to the health and well-being of immigrant and border communities by focusing on immigrants from Asian countries and Russia, and on Spanish-speaking immigrants from Mexico and Latin American countries. The 8 articles in this issue of the journal focus on immigrants living in the United States, Mexico, and Curacao in the Caribbean through an exploration of the sociocultural determinants of their health and health-seeking behaviors, through the evaluation of research and the efficacy of intervention programs, and through a discussion of effective public health strategies and policies that target their evolving and emerging needs and existing disparities. A variety of issues affecting immigrant and border communities are included in these articles: From evaluating culturally relevant parenting programs for immigrant Korean parents and exploring cardiovascular health perceptions of multigenerational Korean immigrants in the Pacific Northwest to exploring the sociocultural determinants of breast-feeding practices among Latina mothers in the Cincinnati area; from the evaluation of housing, self-sufficiency, health, and service outcomes among Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Russian immigrant public housing residents in Northwest Washington State to the exploration of the efficacy of an environmental health intervention project in the colonias of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico; from creating targeted messages about folic acid use to prevent neural tube defects for young Latina mothers in American cities such as Miami, Chicago, and Los Angeles that have large Latino populations to understanding the cultural and social determinants of sexual behaviors of Spanish-speaking immigrant adolescents living in Curacao in the Caribbean; and finally to addressing healthcare disparities among Hispanics immigrants in the United States through targeted strategies.

This collection of 8 articles reflects the increasing acknowledgment and recognition that the health of immigrant and border communities is intricately connected to the overall health of the adopted country's population. It also underscores that by prioritizing these health issues and addressing them through thoughtful and innovative strategies, countries can reduce disparities and inequities and long-term social and financial burdens, and improve the health status of all of its residents.

Satya P. Rao, PhD, CHES

Associate Professor, Department of Health Science

New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, NM 88003 [email protected]

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