Browsing by Author "Aikins, A.D.-G."
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Item Ethnicity: Theories, International Perspectives and Challenges(New York : Nova Science Publisher's, Inc, 2013-01) Agyemang, C.; Airhihenbuwa, C.O.; Aikins, A.D.-G.Increasing globalisation and technology has made the modern world more interconnected and interdependent than ever before in human history. These shared connections and dependencies have naturally led to increasing internal and international migration in recent times. As a result, many countries today are ethnically and culturally diverse. This new world order of ethnic and cultural diversity has rewards including the enhancement of the well-being of both migrants and the host populations. Immigration is essential for some societies to make up for the falling population growth and skill shortages while at the same time playing a crucial role in émigrés supporting their home communities for social and economic developments through remittances. Migration also poses several challenges for both migrants and the host populations. Among many challenges facing migrants include issues of integration, identity, language difficulties, acceptability or discrimination, and access to social and health care services. For the host populations, the complex nature of modern migration flows with varied groups poses extra challenges in meeting the needs and addressing the well-being of all subgroups in the population. This book addresses some of the important processes associated with migration and their relation to health outcomes from an international perspective.Item Food variety, dietary diversity, and type 2 diabetes in a multi-center cross-sectional study among Ghanaian migrants in Europe and their compatriots in Ghana: the RODAM study(European Journal of Nutrition, 2017-09) Danquah, I.; Galbete, C.; Meeks, K.; Nicolaou, M.; Klipstein-Grobusch, K.; Addo, J.; Aikins, A.D.-G.; Amoah, S.K.; Agyei-Baffour, P.; Boateng, D.; Bedu-Addo, G.; Spranger, J.; Smeeth, L.; Owusu-Dabo, E.; Agyemang, C.; Mockenhaupt, F.P.; Beune, E.; Schulze, M.B.Purpose: The importance of dietary diversification for type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk remains controversial. We investigated associations of between- and within-food group variety with T2D, and the role of dietary diversification for the relationships between previously identified dietary patterns (DPs) and T2D among Ghanaian adults. Methods: In the multi-center cross-sectional Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) Study (n = 3810; Ghanaian residence, 56%; mean age, 46.2 years; women, 63%), we constructed the Food Variety Score (FVS; 0–20 points), the Dietary Diversity Score (DDS; 0–7 points), and the Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) variety component (0–20 points). The associations of these scores, of a “rice, pasta, meat and fish” DP, of a “mixed” DP, and of a “roots, tubers and plantain” DP with T2D were calculated by logistic regression. Results: The FVS was inversely associated with T2D, adjusted for socio-demographic, lifestyle, and anthropometric factors [odds ratio (OR) for T2D per 1 standard deviation (SD) increase: 0.81; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71–0.93]. The DDS and the DQI-I variety component were not associated with T2D. There was no association of the “mixed” DP and the “roots, tubers and plantain” DP with T2D. Yet, the “rice, pasta, meat and fish” DP is inversely associated with T2D (OR for T2D per 1 SD increase: 0.82; 95% CI 0.71–0.95); this effect was slightly attenuated by the FVS. Conclusions: In this Ghanaian population, between-food group variety may exert beneficial effects on glucose metabolism and partially explains the inverse association of the “rice, pasta, meat and fish” DP with T2D. © 2017 The Author(s)Item Variations in hypertension awareness, treatment, and control among Ghanaian migrants living in Amsterdam, Berlin, London, and nonmigrant Ghanaians living in rural and urban Ghana-the RODAM study(Journal of Hypertension, 2018-01) Agyemang, C.; Nyaaba, G.; Beune, E.; Meeks, K.; Owusu-Dabo, E.; Addo, J.; Aikins, A.D.-G.; Mockenhaupt, F.P.; Bahendeka, S.; Danquah, I.; Schulze, M.B.; Galbete, C.; Spranger, J.; Agyei-Baffour, P.; Henneman, P.; Klipstein-Grobusch, K.; Adeyemo, A. .; Van Straalen, J.; Commodore-Mensah, Y.; Appiah, L.T.; Smeeth, L.; Stronks, K.Objectives: Hypertension is a major burden among African migrants, but the extent of the differences in prevalence, treatment, and control among similar African migrants and nonmigrants living in different contexts in high-income countries and rural and urban Africa has not yet been assessed. We assessed differences in hypertension prevalence and its management among relatively homogenous African migrants (Ghanaians) living in three European cities (Amsterdam, London, and Berlin) and nonmigrants living in rural and urban Ghana. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among Ghanaian adults (n=5659) aged 25-70 years. Comparisons between sites were made using prevalence ratios with adjustment for age, education, and BMI. Results: The age-standardised prevalence of hypertension was 22 and 28% in rural Ghanaian men and women. The prevalence was higher in urban Ghana [men, 34%; adjusted prevalence ratio=1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.10-1.70]; and much higher in migrants in Europe, especially in Berlin (men, 57%; prevalence ratio=2.21, 1.78-2.73; women, 51%; prevalence ratio=1.74, 1.45-2.09) than in rural Ghana. Hypertension awareness and treatment levels were higher in Ghanaian migrants than in nonmigrant Ghanaians. However, adequate hypertension control was lower in Ghanaian migrant men in Berlin (20%; prevalence ratio=0.43 95%, 0.23-0.82), Amsterdam (29%; prevalence ratio=0.59, 0.35-0.99), and London (36%; prevalence ratio=0.86, 0.49-1.51) than rural Ghanaians (59%). Among women, no differences in hypertension control were observed. About 50% of migrants to 85% of rural Ghanaians with severe hypertension (Blood pressure>180/110) were untreated. Antihypertensive medication prescription patterns varied considerably by site. Conclusion: Hypertension prevalence, awareness, and treatment levels were generally higher in African migrants, but blood pressure control level was lower in Ghanaian migrant men compared with their nonmigrant peers. Further work is needed to identify key underlying factors to support prevention and management efforts.