Essential hypertension (HTN) has been and continues to be a serious public health problem across the globe, particularly among Black races, with an estimated morbidity rate of over 1 billion people and an estimated mortality rate of 9.4 million people worldwide. Essential HTN can lead to a host of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke, myocardial infarction, brain damage, kidney failure, and retinopathy. The main purpose of this quantitative, descriptive, nonexperimental study was to investigate the association of physical inactivity, length of stay in the United States, immigrants' health status, and food security as risk indicators in the development of essential HTN among African-born immigrants after accounting for age and education. The conceptual framework for this study was the socioecological model of health (SEMH). A secondary dataset from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), for the year 2014, was used for this study, including data for Africa-born immigrants over the age of 40 who participated in the survey. Logistic regression was used for statistical analyses. The results of the study revealed that length of stay or years in spent in the United States have a significant association with the development of essential HTN. Results from this study could be used to promote positive social change by identifying and assessing challenges in implementing intervention programs meant to assist in controlling essential HTN among African-born immigrants and Black populations who are disproportionately affected by this condition.

Despite the evidence that colorectal cancer screening is effective in reducing the incidence of and mortality from colorectal cancer, racial and ethnic disparities in colorectal cancer screening persist in the United States. African-born immigrants in the United States have lower colorectal cancer screening rates than native-born Americans. The purpose of this quantitative, retrospective, cross-sectional study was to examine how family income, health insurance status, language of interview, length of stay in the United States, perceived health status, level of education, and having a usual place for medical care affect colorectal cancer screening among African-born immigrants in the United States. The immigrant health services utilization model provided the framework for the study. Secondary data collected in 2010, 2013, and 2015 through the National Health Interview Survey from 349 African-born immigrants age 40 years and above were analyzed using logistic regression and a chi-square test of independence. A stratified multistage sampling procedure was used to select the sample for the study. Results showed a significant association between colorectal cancer screening and health insurance status, length of stay in the United States, perceived health status, and having a usual place for medical care. However, no association was found between colorectal cancer screening and family income, education level, and interview language. Findings may be used to impact positive social change and guide policy decisions on colorectal cancer preventive interventions targeting African-born immigrants living in the United States.