Browsing by Subject "Health Communication"
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Item A Mixed Methods Approach to the Definition of Family Health Promotion Practices for Mexican Sonoran Mothers(2006-12-01) Montiel-Carbajal, Maria Martha; Sue LurieMontiel-Carbajal, Maria M., A Mixed Methods Approach to the Definition of Family Health Promotion Practices for Mexican Sonoran Mothers. Doctor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), December 2006, 143 pp., 14 tables, 1 illustration, bibliography, 55 titles. The purpose of this research was to study the family health promotion practices of a sample of Mexican mothers living in the state of Sonora Mexico through a concurrent mixed method approach that included (1) a qualitative component with face to face and in-depth interviews, investigator observations, and analysis of content; (2) a quantitative component consisting of statistical analysis of data from selected selections of the National Survey for the Evaluation of Health Services 2002-2003. For the qualitative component 15 mothers, with mean age of 40 years, mean years of education of 10 years, living with their families were selected to form a purposive sample, and assigned to one of three groups: married working mothers, non-married working mothers, or married non-working mothers. The qualitative component was naturalistic and descriptive using semi-structured interviews with the mothers, and individual questionnaires to collect demographic and housing information. The quantitative component used the survey responses provided by the database of the National Survey for the Evaluation of Health Services 2002-2003, from 404 female adults age 18 and older, living in the urban zone of Sonora. The qualitative component showed that mothers conceptualize the health status of the family as a priority. The specific practices they use depend on the set of external resources and internal strengths of the family in order to overcome the physical, environmental, relational, or economic barriers they found to the promotion of health practices. The participants also reported being unsatisfied with the access and quality of the social health care system. The data from the quantitative component showed that Mexican Sonoran women living in the urban area reported having good health and felt satisfied with their health status; their satisfaction with the social health care system was fair. The group of non-married working mothers was detected to be more at risk for cardiovascular diseases due to a greater proportion of smokers and drinking paired with low amount of exercise. The results provided valuable information to formulate health promotion programs and future policies to be implemented with the target population.Item Advance Directives Planning Among Mexican-Americans in Dallas-Fort Worth(2005-05-01) Santiago, Carmen; Lurie, Sue; Gonzalez, Adela; Rene, AntonioSantiago, Carmen C., Advance Directives Planning Among Mexican-American in Dallas Fort Worth. Doctor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), May 2005, 133 pp., bibliography, 33 titles. This qualitative study explored the knowledge base of advance directives planning among Mexican-Americans in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In addition, the study explored areas that influenced their willingness to engage in advance directives and their preferences related to family collective decision-making. Two focus groups, representing two different populations were conducted. One focus group represented second generation Mexican-Americans, 65 years old and older, both men and women that were hospitalized or participated in home health care programs between January 2004 and January 2005. The second focus group consisted of Mexican-Americans, 18 years and older who were family members or caregivers of sick elders in the same time frame. Questions utilized to gather the knowledge and beliefs of the focus group participants, were based on a previous study by Dr. Morrison and Dr. Meir conducted in New York. Participant’s responses were analyzed using NVIVO software. Findings indicated a lack of knowledge of advance directives and confusion about state wills and living wills among Mexian-Americans in Dallas-Fort Worth. A majority of the focus group participants expressed a preference for their older children to make the decisions of their end of life care. This was due to a belief that their child is better educated and could make the right decision. Participants also revealed the importance of a family collective decision. This belief in family unity kept them from excluding members from the decision of end of life care. Another interesting finding from this study was a majority of the participants had already made funeral plans such as arranging for the lot to be buried in and funeral service pre-paid, but had not considered advance care directives. According to both groups of participants, arranging for their funeral service gave them a peace of mind and dignity since they had established where they will be interred. These findings suggested that the Mexican-American population needs to be informed about this legal process. Mexican-Americans need to be aware that the State provides ways to obtain this documentation at no cost. Health care providers should be involved in the education about advance directives and encourage their patients to learn more and consider obtaining one. Further research studying Mexican American knowledge and beliefs, at state level and a comparison among states should be explored. Keywords; advance directives, decision making, end of life, ethical issuesItem Assessment and Identification of Areas for Improvement of a Local Health Department Food Safety Program(2008-05-01) Harris, Ann MarieHarris, Ann Marie. Assessment and Identification of Areas for Improvement of a Local Health Department Food Safety Program. Master of Public Health (Environmental Health), May 2008, 14 pp. 1 table, 1 figure, references, 14 titles. The Fort Worth Public Health Department (FWPHD) established a standardized assessment to compare compliance rates for risk factors contributing to foodborne illness. The FWPHD identified significantly higher compliance rates in four out of six risk factors. Risk factors posing the greatest risk for out of compliance observations included threats from contaminated equipment and chemical/other hazards. Fast food establishments had a significantly greater risk for contaminated equipment (OR=1.81; CI=1.27, 2.58). Chemical/other hazards was the only risk factor with a higher overall out of compliance rate than the FDA. The FWPHD can now accurately track the effectiveness of training and education programs for food handlers, consumer health specialists, and the overall inspection process.Item Barriers to Health Care Access Among Vietnamese Refugees in Tarrant County, Texas.(2004-05-01) Le, Tuan D.; Chiehwen Ed Hsu; Sue Lurie; Raghbir SandhuLe, Tuan D., Barriers to Health Care Access among Vietnamese Refugees in Tarrant County, Texas. Master of Public Health (Health Management & Policy), May 2004, 88 pp., 17 tables, 11 illustrations, bibliography, 56 titles. The refugee community is the most vulnerable community due to existing medical conditions without proper treatment and many barriers in accessing the health care system, including different language, cultural conflict, legal restrictions, and socioeconomic status. The purpose of this study is to determine the nature of these barriers that keep the Vietnamese refugees from accessing the health care system in Tarrant County. The study found that 45.8% have no health insurance, 17.4% received Medicaid, 53.7% have no primary care physician, and 57.14% of Vietnamese elderly refugees, who have been living in the U.S. between seven and ten years, and have lost SSI and Medicaid. These findings are significant at p [less than] .001. Vietnamese refugees perceived factors that kept them from accessing the health care system as major barriers, including language (14%), legal issues (17%), misunderstanding of the medical system (15%), lack of insurance (14%), and different culture (11%). These results may assist social service providers, health care providers, and policy activists to enhance their services and advocate for legal issues, in order to remove these barriers and help refugees to access health care better.Item Barriers to Women's Cardiovascular Risk Knowledge: A Tarrant County Study(2004-05-01) Liewer, Linda J.; Kristine LykensLiewer, Linda J., Barriers to Women’s Cardiovascular Risk Knowledge: A Tarrant County Study. Master of Public Health (Health Management and Policy), May 2004, 71 pp., 19 tables, 6 illustrations, 36 references, 17 titles. Women’s death rate from cardiovascular disease is greater than the death rate from all cancers. Awareness and knowledge of a disease are key to dealing with it, yet many women are still unaware of their CVD risk. The purpose of this study is to identify the barriers to knowledge about cardiovascular disease risk in women in Tarrant County. Interviews with administrative personnel in 10 community organizations confirmed the lack of awareness of CVD. Barriers included: women in caregiver roles advocate effectively for their family members, but less effectively for themselves; physician communication with women regarding CVD is often suboptimal; women fear breast cancer far more than CVD; a program deficiency exists in Tarrant County; lack of a visible woman champion and heart disease is still seen as a man’s disease.Item Development of a Subjective Comfort Questionnaire for Hydrogel Contact Lens Wearers(2003-12-01) Hays, Brian Hunter; Sheedlo, Harold; Stein, Jerry; Atiles, LuisThroughout this paper it is written that I would complete this study in its entirety. Due to time constraints and the length of this study, it was planned from the beginning that I would only accomplish the beginning phases, phases one and two. The reason why this paper was written this way, planning the complete research plan, is to aid the individuals that will finish this study in its entirety. I. Purpose. The purpose of this project is to develop a questionnaire that can be used as a tool to measure the subjective symptoms of ocular comfort or discomfort reported by soft contact lens wearers. After a questionnaire has been developed, it will be tested to determine its reliability and validity in capturing the ocular sensations experienced by hydrogel contact lens wearers. II. Overview of the study. The research for the study will be conducted in six phases while pursuing three specific aims. The phases will consist of: A. reviewing literature in the form of reported soft contact lens symptomatology and interviewing skill improvement, compiling and B. examining previously developed questionnaires, developing open-ended interview questions and collecting data from the field. C. developing preliminary questionnaire items based on data gained during the first phase. D. administering the preliminary questionnaire to receive feedback from volunteers with regards to each item’s appropriateness, and tallying the volunteer's responses to graphically analyze each item’s answer distribution. E. refining each item based on the data obtained during the third phase to create a revised draft of the questionnaire. F. determining if the revised draft conveyed and captured the ideas reported by the volunteers by receiving feedback after it is administered. G. demonstrating reliability and validity by psychometrically validating the questionnaire. During each administrational phase of the study (phases three, five and six) two groups of volunteers will be used to gain a broader spectrum of data. Each group will be composed of a sub-set of previously interviewed volunteers and a sub-set of new volunteers. Before any information is obtained, a confidentiality agreement will be discussed with each volunteer. All volunteers will be given a simple, easy to read informed consent form and a randomly assigned number.Item Does a Community Health Worker Program Work among Latino Communities?(2003-12-01) Medina, Amanda Y.; Hector Balcazar; Claudia S. Coggin; Francisco Soto MasMedina, Amanda Y., Does a Community Health Worker Program Work among Latino Communities? Master of Public Health (Community Health), Dec 2003, 77 pp., 8 tables, 5 illustrations, bibliography, 70 titles. The study’s goal was to investigate if and what makes a community health worker (CHW) education program work among Latino participants. First, the author developed a conceptual model to explain why a CHW program might effectively reach Latino communities. Second, the study tested the effectiveness of a CHW program, Salud Para Su Corazon of North Texas, by examining participants’ self-reported healthy behaviors from before and immediately after education. Third, the study examined potential CHW program components that predicted healthy behavior scores. These findings showed that pledging to the program and positive program evaluations predicted participants’ scores. Past research and theories are in congruent with all these findings.Item Enhancing the nutritional status of an older population: an educational intervention to improve the nutrition knowledge of persons over 60 living in a rural Texas community(2002-05-01) Lane, Bridget M.Lane, Bridget M., Enhancing the nutritional status of an older population: an educational intervention to improve the nutrition knowledge of persons over 60 living in a rural Texas community. Master of Public Health (Health Administration), May, 2002, 61 pp., 8 tables, references, 41 titles. A four session nutrition education promotion program was developed and implemented for a group of seniors in a rural Texas community to enhance the nutritional status of persons over 60 through educational intervention to improve nutrition knowledge. Nutrition knowledge was measured using pre-tests and post-tests (before and after short-term nutrition education). No statistically significant differences were observed between pre/post test results, although there was a directional improvement in several aspects of test performance. Nutrition education programs that can effectively translate healthy dietary recommendations into understandable concepts can result in improvements in nutrition knowledge, and possibly have a positive influence on dietary behaviors and health markers.Item Epidemiological Modeling of a Bioterrorism Event in a Noncombat Environment(1999-07-01) Perkins, Christopher J.; Antonio Rene; Mains; Gilbert RamirezPerkins, Christopher J., Epidemiological Modeling of a Bioterrorism Event in a Noncombat Environment. Master of Public Health (Biomedical Sciences), July, 1999, 60 pp., 8 tables, 4 illustrations, references, 31 titles. The challenge to government, medical and public health officials is to advocate for American citizens the safest environment possible to live and work. A threat to the safety of all Americans has initiated preparations from national, state, and local jurisdictions in an attempt to counter the probability of biological terrorism. Bioterrorism is not only a threat to humans but also a threat to the nation’s water and food supplies. Epidemiological Modeling of a Bioterrorism Event demonstrates the importance in preparations to reduce the number of casualties and fatalities. Using Epidemiological Modeling of bioterrorism events will aid public health and medical personnel in the planning and initiation of appropriate public health actions and medical therapies should such events occur.Item Evaluating the Sustainability of THE NORTH TEXAS SALUD PARA SU CORAZON PROGRAM: Effects of the Program on Promotores and the Partner Organizations(2008-05-01) Kourosh, Elham Rastegar; Lurie, Sue; Balcazar, Hector; Hollen, MaryKourosh, Elham R., Evaluating the Sustainability of the NORTH TEXAS SALUD PARA SU CORAZON PROGRAM: Effects of the Program on Promotores and the Partner Organizations. Doctor of Public Health, May 2008, 117 pp., 1 table, bibliography, 47 titles. In the light of the rapid growth of the Latino population in Texas, the need for culturally and linguistically appropriate health promotion programs for Latinos is becoming apparent. It is essential that these programs address CVD prevention for this population, since the results of an assessment conducted by the City of Fort Worth in 1998 confirmed that the Latino population in the area is heavily burdened by CVD risk factors such as diabetes and lack of physical activity. It is also important, in light of limited resources for health promotion, that the community health impacts of such programs be sustainable. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the sustainability of the North Texas Salud Para Su Corazon program, by examining two major elements of the program for sustainability: (1) the professional development and work-related experiences of the promotores who participated during the 3 years of operation of the program, and (2) the continuation of the activites that were supported by the network of community partner organizations during the initial period. North Texas Salud Para Su Corazon was a heart health promotion program which trained and mobilized promotores in the Fort Worth area from 2001 to 2004. Guided interviews with a key informant (project director), 14 promotores, and nine partner organization representatives were analyzed using qualitative methods and showed that project activities and effects endured beyond the funding period of the project. Promotores continued to disseminate heart health information after the end of the project, and organizational structures are evolving to support promotora activities, enabling the health effects of the project to continue in the community. Recommendations were made for further support of these activities and included university sponsored studies of the promotores’ work, annual conferences and award ceremonies highlighting their service, and the development of funding for continuous education and job creation programs involving promotores in the health care sector.Item Factors that Motivate Hispanics to Attend Church-Based Health Interventions(2006-05-01) Sanchez, Mary-Katherine; Gonzalez, Adela; Lykens, Kristine; Lurie, SueSanchez, Mary-Katherine, Factors that Motivate Hispanics to Participate in Church-Based Health Interventions. Doctor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), May 2006, 80 p.p., 1 table, bibliography, 62 titles. One of the most important demographic trends taking place in the United States today is the rapid growth of the Hispanic/Latino population (Kostin, 2004). Hispanics are the fastest-growing minority group in the United States (Documet Sharma, 2004; United States Census Bureau, 2003). This rapid growth will have a major impact on social, political and economic issues as well as on the health of the people in the United States (Kostin, 2004). Throughout the country, church-based health interventions are being offered to individuals of differing cultural and ethnic backgrounds, however, retention of participants is often low. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to determine the roles that social and behavioral factors play in motivating Hispanics to attend church-based health interventions. The study used qualitative methods. Focus groups were conducted at two church sites that were participants in the fall 2005 American Heart Association De Corazon a Corazon program with the highest retention rate of participating parishes. Both focus groups were audio-recorded, and recordings and field notes were then used to translate and transcribe the collected data. All data were entered into NVivo and coded to identify important themes and concepts. Results identified key identified motivating factors that included familiarity with setting, desire to improve health, need to gain information, knowing others in the group, social and motivational factors, monetary benefits such as free health screenings and workshops and questions being answered in Spanish. It was determined that social factors play a major role in motivating Hispanics to attend church-based health interventions. Through increasing our knowledge of motivational factors and influences on Hispanics to attend a church-based intervention, more effective health prevention and intervention programs can be designed and implemented in an effort to better reach this growing minority population and lessen the burden of minority health disparities. This is an area of research that needs to be further examined in order to prevent growing health disparities among the Hispanic population.Item Getting Lost in Translation: The Dangers in Literal Translation(2008-04-18) Pena, Itzel; Gwirtz, Patricia A.; Gladue, Brian; Espinoza, AnnaCurrently 16 million Hispanics in the U.S. do not speak any English making the need for Spanish translation apparent. Within the clinical research realm, accurate translation is important for complete comprehension of the informed consent process, as it is the application of the ethical principle of respect for persons (autonomy). This study found that literal translations might not always be the best form of translation. Instead, non-literal translations may offer better comprehension of the consent process. However, the effect of being bilingual and attaining high education levels are significant factors influencing the comprehension of the informed consent document. Additionally these factors may actually facilitate the understanding of the consent form more than the literal and non-literal translation. Lastly, the perception and meaning behind different translations can affect comprehension of consent concepts. Subjects preferred to be called participants showing that the two different translations can hold different meanings.Item Is an Enviormental Health Educational Intervention Sufficient to Change Behavior?: Perceptions from an Indigenous Lake Community in Guatemala(2006-12-01) Pezzia, Carla; Terrance Gratton; Sue Lurie; Norman TrieffPezzia, Carla. Is an environmental health educational intervention sufficient to change behavior?: Perceptions from an indigenous lake community in Guatemala. Master of Public Health (Environmental Health), December 2006, 46 pp., 6 tables, 1 illustration, references, 18 titles. Traditional environmental health practices focus on education and exposure prevention, but the division between the biophysico-chemical and social environment keeps them from always being sufficient; human ecology seeks to bridge this division. The second leading cause of mortality in Guatemala is gastrointestinal infections, and San Pedro, Guatemala, provides an opportunity to study these infections utilizing a human ecological approach. Morbidity data were collected from the local health center, observations noted systematically, and both residents and tourists were interviewed regarding their perceptions of the community’s environmental health. Results found that residents who had no contact with tourists stated that, for gastrointestinal infections due to refuse in the streets, education alone would not be sufficient to reduce this problem; most felt some type of government intervention would be necessary. It is recommended that public health specialists enjoy a human ecological approach and refer to the community when designing an appropriate intervention.Item Language and Cultural Access Services for Healthcare of Latinos: A Study of Their Experiences in Dallas County(2006-04-04) Prieto, Juan; Coggin, Claudia; Gonzalez, Adela; Cipher, DaishaPrieto, Juan G., Language and Cultural Access Services for Healthcare of Latinos: A Study of Their Experiences in Dallas County. Master of Public Health (Community Health), April 4, 2006, pp 53, tables 5, bibliography, titles 29. The American healthcare system largely serves English-speakers, but 21 million Latinos in this country speak limited English. This cross-sectional study examines language laws and patient experiences in overcoming communication barriers. The study’s responses suggest lack of awareness of language access rights among Latinos and non-compliance with language laws by some public and private healthcare providers. Communication gaps can result in untreated or misdiagnosed illness, injury or death. However, life-threatening disparities experienced by Latinos could be alleviated if patients learned of their language rights through media campaigns. Medical treatment would drastically improve the hiring, training and supporting bilingual healthcare professionals; through the strengthening the enforcement of language services laws; and through the allocating funds for cultural and linguistic services in healthcare.Item Line-of-Duty Injury or Illness Incidence in an Air National Guard Unit(2001-05-01) Lorich, Michael F.; Muriel Marshall; Sharon Clark; Antonio ReneLorich, Michael F., Line-of-Duty Injury or Illness Incidence in an Air National Guard Unit. Master of Public Health, DO/MPH track, May 2001, 31 p.p., 3 tables, 4 illustrations, reference list, addendum. Line-of-duty injuries or illnesses (LODs) suffered by members of Air National Guard units may demonstrate the status of unit safety, unit readiness and deployability, a potentially significant area of unit expenditures, and areas of needed health promotion. This descriptive pilot study was conducted at the unit commander’s request to determine an apparent doubling of the prevailing incidence of LODs over a recent quarterly period. Tracking of injuries and injured individuals was problematic. The vast majority of LODs were musculoskeletal in nature. Decreased fitness level (Identified as elevated body mass index (BMI)) among males and increased age were related to increased LODs. Recommendations were given to improve tracking, identify individuals at increased risk, provide pre-training assessment, and institute health promotion focused on musculoskeletal injuries.Item Measurement of Health Care Professional Concordance with the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Guidelines for the Management of Asthma(2007-05-01) Oshitoye, Jeannette AdetokunboAsthma is a widely prevalent chronic disease affecting children in the United States. Prior studies show that blacks are more likely to die from asthma than other racial groups. Despite this fact, blacks are less likely to receive the recommended medication to appropriately treat their asthma. Because of the disparity in treatment, this study was conducted to determine if minorities were receiving information recommended by the NAEPP Guidelines. Logistic regression was used to determine the receipt of instructional information. Results show that males are less likely; and those below the age of 17 are more likely to receive the information.Item Perceptions Regarding Tarrant County's Preparedness for a Bioterrorism Attack Involving Smallpox(2003-05-01) Michael, Donald T.; Sally Blakley; Samuel AtkinsonMichael III, Donald T., Perceptions Regarding Tarrant County’s Preparedness for a Bioterrorism Attack Involving Smallpox. Master of Public Health (Epidemiology), May 2003, 51 pp., 10 tables, bibliography, 26 titles. Perception and knowledge of risk of a bioterrorist attack are important factors in determining public response and anxiety level. A telephone survey of residents of Tarrant County, Texas was conducted to determine public perception regarding Tarrant County’s preparedness to respond to an intentional release of the smallpox virus as an act of terrorism. Although a low response rate limits the ability to generalize the findings of this survey, frequency and chi-squared analysis of survey responses revealed a public desire for more information about the county’s preparedness, access to smallpox vaccine, and identified a potential gap between objectively measured and public self-assessment of knowledge about bioterrorism and smallpox concepts. Increased efforts toward information dissemination and education of the Tarrant County community are needed to address these concerns.Item Promotores de Salud of North Texas: Impact of Health Education Intervention on the Change of Blood Pressure and Body Mass Index in Adult Participants in Dreams Project 1.(2008-05-01) Arslanagic, Enisa; Robert GracyArslanagic,Enisa, MD,CCRC., Promotores de Salud of North Texas: Impact of Health Education Intervention on the Change of Blood Pressure and Body Mass Index in Adult Participants in Dreams Project 1. Master of Public Health (Community Health), May 2008, 46 pp., 3 tables, references, 51 titles. The prevalence of obesity among Mexican Americans has been increasing over the past decade, and is associated with hypertension and diabetes. Secondary data from DREAMS study were used to evaluate whether behavioral intervention on diet and physical activity using promotores de salud model significantly reduced blood pressure and body mass index among adult participants. Results showed significant changes in systolic blood pressure after the trial within intervention and control group, without significant difference in changes of blood pressure and body mass index after the trial between groups. These findings suggest that more comprehensive programs are needed to better understand Hispanic population's health behavior.Item The Effects of a School-Based Intervention on the Physical Activity Behaviors of Latino High School Students(2004-05-01) Pena, Eva; Balcazar, Hector; Lurie, Sue; Morrow, James R.Pena, Eva, The Effects of a School-Based Intervention on the Physical Activity Behaviors of Latino High School Students. Master of Public Health (Community Health), May 2004, 66 pp., 5 tables, 2 illustrations, 6 titles. The study was to determine if a culturally appropriate school-based intervention increases self-reported levels of physical activity (PA) in 9th grade Latinos. A culturally appropriate intervention could help Latino youth adopt and maintain PA. Students from two primarily Latino schools served as subjects. Experimental students received a modified form of Salud Para Su Corazon, a Latino community-based cardiovascular health initiative. Questions from CDC’s YRBSS were used to measure PA changes. A 3-way mixed model ANOVA was used investigate the effect of pre-post, treatment, and gender on self-reported days of participation in moderate (M) and vigorous (V) PA. Students reported increased M and V PA at the post-test compared to the pre-test. The experimental students tended to report greater increases in V PA following intervention compared to controls. Males reported higher levels of V PA than females. Results suggest some potential effect on student PA behaviors as a result of the intervention.Item The Public Health Impact of Type 2 Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus in Asian Indians, Chinese and Japanese(2001-08-01) Nadkarni, Neetee; Urrutia-Rojas, Ximena; Rene, Antonio; Lurie, SueNadkarni, Neetee A. The Public Health Impact of Type 2 Non-Insulin Diabetes Mellitus in Asian Indians, Chinese and Japanese. Master in Public Health (Community Health), August 2001, 22 pp, 4 tables, bibliography. The prevalence of type 2 non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is increasing in Asians, especially among Asian, Indian, Chinese and Japanese populations. This increase will have a severe impact on the health and well being of these populations. In 1997, a health survey from the World Health Organization (WHO) found numbers of adults with NIDDM in Asian Indians, Chinese and Japanese populations to be first, second and fifth, respectively. According to the National Commisision on Diabetes, “it is not known how the course, the complications and mortality from diabetes among subgroups of the United States population compare with the same factors for persons with diabetes of the same ethnic origin in the homelands”. This review article focuses on the number and prevalence of NIDDM and risk factors contributing to the disease among these Asian sub-populations. This goal of this paper is to provide information to health and medical researchers, practitioners and community planners for use in public health interventions in the United States, India, China and Japan. The results of this paper direct attention to the migrant Asian Indian, Chinese and Japanese populations because the prevalence of NIDDM is increasingly rapid in these groups.