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Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African Health Disparities Research: A Scoping Review

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Abstract

Background

Research in health disparities and how they affect underserved populations continues to grow and expand. However, the experiences of Arab/Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Americans often go unnoticed, and yet, preliminary data suggests there are significant disparities between this population and other groups. The purpose of this scoping review is to examine and synthesize the extent of available literature on health disparities and outcomes for this group.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted to investigate the current state of research on health disparities and outcomes among Arab/MENA individuals within the USA. The PRISMA protocol for scoping reviews was utilized.

Results

Through the use of PubMed and PsychInfo databases, the search identified 43 articles that were eligible for inclusion in the final review. Five themes emerged: prevalence and health outcomes, factors impacting health, comparison studies, barriers, and health literacy and beliefs. Extant data was equivocal, suggesting the need for further research.

Conclusions

Research on Arab/MENA health disparities and outcomes is in the detection phase, indicating that more research is needed to elucidate the state of Arab/MENA health in the USA. These findings can help healthcare professionals and researchers understand the emerging literature on health disparities within the Arab/MENA community and inform further research and clinical practice within this population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Nicole J. Fleischer

  2. Department of Educational Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Katherine Sadek

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  1. Nicole J. Fleischer
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  2. Katherine Sadek
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript. N. Fleischer completed the preliminary scoping review search, and both authors engaged in the review of the final articles to discuss themes. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Nicole J. Fleischer.

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This was a scoping review, and therefore, no ethical approval was required.

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Fleischer, N.J., Sadek, K. Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African Health Disparities Research: A Scoping Review. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-024-01972-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-024-01972-8

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