Kenyans in US likely to report diseases more

 Kenyans in the United States are more likely to report having diabetes or hypertension than other African immigrants, a study has found.

 The study conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota and published in the BMC Public Health Journal collected data from 996 immigrants from 18 African countries, (37.9 percent Somalis; 26.8 percent Ethiopians; 14 percent Liberians; 8.5 percent Sudanese; 5.1 percent Kenyans and 7.8 percent others group). About 65 percent of the participants were from the East African region, specifically Somalia and Ethiopia.

According to the study, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of deaths in the US

The survey found that Kenyans and Liberians have the highest risks of reporting these diseases as they increasingly integrate into the American society.
HEALTHY DIET

Sudanese report the lowest prevalence at 4 percent. The overall prevalence was 8 percent.

57 Percent of Kenyans surveyed were classified as being obese or overweight. But they were still likely to make a conscious effort to exercise and eat a healthy diet.
Also on a positive note, Kenyans were less likely to smoke compared to the African counterparts

 The study however pointed out that the obesity rates were lower than those found in white indigenous Americans.

Those immigrants who have been in the US for a significant time over five years were at a higher risk of getting heart diseases.

 The results showed that 98 per cent of Kenyans had health insurance, with 84 per cent having access to private insurance and 13 per cent having public insurance.
Over 60.8 percent of Kenyans sampled were female while 39.2 percent were male.