THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTH LITERACY AMONG SECOND GENERATION NIGERIAN AMERICANS

Abstract

Background: Racial or ethnic minority immigrants living in the U.S. have an 81% higher prevalence of experiencing limited health literacy than individuals belonging to racial ethnic minorities born in the U.S. and other US-born citizens. Although the children of immigrants are impacted by the health behaviors of their parents, health literacy–related research about Nigerians living in the U.S. has focused on first-generation immigrants. In addition, most of the studies have focused on how health information is used to take actions, with almost no study on how individuals learn to find and understand health information. This study used the Cultural Ecology Model (CEM) constructs to assess how second-generation Nigerian Americans learn to find, understand, and use health information (become personally health literate).

Methods: Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted on Zoom with 20 second-generation Nigerian Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 recruited from several churches in the Metro-Atlanta area of Georgia and by referrals. The thematic data analysis deployed the CEM constructs of environment, culture and technology to examine themes and gather insights about how second-generation Nigerian Americans become personally health literate.

Results: Findings indicate that second-generation Nigerian Americans describe their health literacy experience as “figuring it out,” and that individual characteristics outside of the themes identified in the CEM contribute to health literacy. In the process of "figuring it out", technology played a crucial role for respondents in the study. It serves as a primary source of health information for many individuals, particularly through social media platforms, with TikTok being particularly popular. The extensive network of medical professionals and a strong focus on medical education in the Nigerian community, significantly contribute to improved health literacy. The study also highlights a shift in communication dynamics between second-generation Nigerian Americans and first-generation Nigerian immigrants. Peer-to-peer exchanges have become essential for navigating health literacy, especially concerning mental health issues.

Conclusion: Results solidify the role of Culture, Environment and Technology in the development of health literacy. Specifically, findings highlight the strong role that technological resources and peer-to-peer interactions play in “figuring it out” – a description of the health literacy journey of second-generation Nigerian Americans.