Faith-based health screenings for Marshallese adults living in the Republic of the Marshall Islands: Study design and results

Front Public Health. 2023 Mar 28:11:1075763. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1075763. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Introduction: Striking health disparities exist in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). The RMI has one of the highest age-adjusted type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rates in the world (23.0%) compared to global (9.3%) and United States (US; 13.3%) rates. We conducted health screenings including clinical indicators of T2DM and hypertension among Marshallese in the RMI.

Methods: Screenings were conducted at 20 churches on Majuro Atoll. Participants completed questionnaires and biometric data collection assessing glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure, and body mass index.

Results: Screenings included 528 participants and showed a high prevalence of T2DM, obesity, and hypertension. One-third of participants were referred to the non-communicable disease clinic. The percent of adults in this study with T2DM-indicative HbA1c (48.5%) is higher than observed at the national level (23.0%).

Discussion: Results highlight the need for non-communicable disease-related programs in the RMI.

Keywords: Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders; Republic of the Marshall Islands; community-based participatory research; faith-based organizations; hypertension; type 2 diabetes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / diagnosis
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / prevention & control
  • Glycated Hemoglobin
  • Humans
  • Hypertension* / epidemiology
  • Micronesia / epidemiology
  • Noncommunicable Diseases*

Substances

  • Glycated Hemoglobin