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The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link. This study explored the perspectives of Black men, originally from East Africa, living in the United Kingdom and their partners on what it means to live with diagnosed HIV. This article reports on concealment of HIV-positive status as a strategy adopted by the affected participants to manage the flow of information about their HIV-positive status. Analysis of the data, collected using in-depth interviews involving 23 participants, found widespread selective concealment of HIV-positive status. However, a few respondents had 'come out' publicly about their condition. HIV prevention initiatives should recognise concealment as a vital strategy in managing communication about one's HIV-positive status.

The aim of this study was to investigate health status, health behaviors, and health care access and utilization of African immigrants in the District of Columbia Metro Area (DCMA). The review of the literature revealed a paucity of studies in medical care access and utilization of African immigrants. Most of these research conflate African immigrants’ health care issues into their African-American counterparts. Hence, very little is known about African immigrants’ medical care access, health care utilization, health behavior, and health status in the United States. This study essays to address that. The study also compared and contrasted the level of medical care access, specific health care behaviors, and health care utilization of African immigrants with that of the civilian non-institutionalized U.S adult population by race. Two data sources, primary and secondary, were utilized in this study. The primary data for the study was derived from both quantitative and qualitative sources, with priority given to the quantitative source. The secondary data were derived from the 2013 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in the Sample Adult dataset. The NHIS data served as a baseline data. To provide an expanded appreciation of the research problems, mixed methods research (quantitative and qualitative) were employed in the study. In 2013, data were collected for first-generation African immigrants aged 18 and over in the DCMA. The target population for the study was 125,209 civilian non-institutionalized African immigrants in the DCMA. African immigrants excluded were those who were less than years, and inmates of correctional institutions. A total of 400 African immigrants were eligible sample size. Survey participants were solicited on the basis of non-probability convenience sampling method. Thus, persons were selected based on their availability in designated and targeted areas in the DCMA. Data were collected on two hundred and eighty one (281) civilian non-institutionalized African immigrants in the DCMA. Accordingly, the response rate was about 70 percent; the number of completed questionnaire divided by the total number of eligible sample size. The survey instrument consisted of twenty-six (26) structured and standardized questionnaires and one (1) qualitative question. Both internet and face-to-face interviews were used to administer the survey instrument. The internet survey was conducted via the Survey Monkey, while face-to-face survey was conducted at designed locations frequented by African immigrants in the DCMA including African grocery shops, Churches, Mosques, social clubs and social e vents. The face-to-face survey data was inputted into the SPSS with the aid of Survey Monkey collectors' link. The IBM SPSS statistics 22 was used to perform the data analyses.Furthermore, Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services, a model that has been deployed extensively in public health studies to investigate access to and use of health care services among vulnerable groups, was employed. Independent variables, in this study, were derived from the three major components of the model’s individual health care access indicators (predisposing, need, and enabling indicators). The main outcome measures were usual source of medical care (potential access) and the use of health care services (realized access), defined as the use of preventive medical care. Descriptive, bivariate, and binomial logistic regression were used to assess the effect of specific predisposing, need, and enabling explanatory constructs on access to and utilization of health care services of African immigrants in the DCMA. The results of the dissertation corroborated findings of earlier research with respect to the healthy immigrant paradox. The results suggested that African-immigrants living in the District of Columbia had higher odds of excellent or very good health status relative to the U.S general population nationwide and the U.S-born in the Northeast region. Conversely, few differences in perceived-health status were found when intra and inter racial as well as regional comparative analyses were performed among African-immigrants and non-Hispanic White, Hispanics, non-Hispanic Black. African-immigrants in the DCMA were less likely to utilize health care services compared with all the major three races in the United States. Further, non-Hispanic White (Caucasians) were more likely than African-immigrants to have higher odds of excellent health status. Approximately 85 percent of African immigrants in the DCMA had a usual source of care. Of those with a usual source of care, 44 percent considered it to be a doctor's office or health maintenance organization (HMO). Compared with other African immigrants in the DCMA, Nigerians (40 percent) were more likely to have a usual source of care. African immigrants in the DCMA who had a usual source of care were more likely to have higher odds of utilizing of health care services than those who did not have a usual source of care. What is more, a little over a third (32 percent) of African immigrants had realized access to health care services in the DCMA. When the results were considered by gender, women (71 percent) were more likely than men (66 percent) to have realized access to health care services within the previous 12 months. The study highlighted that about 92 percent of African immigrants aged 60 and more had realized access to health care services, and about 74 percent are those with health insurance coverage. However, the vast majority of the African immigrants had lower odds of utilizing health care services compared with Whites, African-Americans, and Hispanics. Moreover, the study brought to light that influenza vaccination behavior of African-immigrants in the DCMA was not radically distinct from the U.S adult population. Both African-immigrants in the DCMA and the U.S adult population exhibited lower odds of obtaining influenza vaccination in 2013. Compared with the U.S non-elderly population (19-64 years), African immigrants in the DCMA reported lower uninsured rate (4 percent versus percent). The findings suggested that African immigrants depended heavily on employer-sponsored group health insurance to finance their medical care consumption (10 percent for both Medicaid and Medicare versus 73 percent for employer sponsored health insurance). Another key finding was that African immigrants in the DCMA (63 percent) were less likely to use African folk or traditional remedies to meet their health care needs. As established in this study, an overwhelming majority of African immigrants in the DCMA had a usual source of health care services. That said, they do not efficiently utilize health care services. Specifically, a large of majority of African immigrants in the DCMA reported not using preventive health care services. The study calls for sustained efforts from state and local health agencies to reverse the trend as ensuring access to primary and preventive care for everyone, regardless of immigration status, in the United States will likely be critical to the success of the novel national health reforms aimed at arresting the galloping trends in health spending, enhancing quality of life for everyone, and mitigating health and health care disparities. Like other vulnerable population, African immigrants in the DCMA face a series of health and health care challenges in the United States. Accordingly, public health research into such issues is imperative, and this will more likely enhance policy makers' appreciation of the health care needs and behavior of African immigrants in the DCMA so as to design and execute effective health programs to improve health care access and utilization for African immigrants in the DCMA. Future research might essay to assess the impacts of acculturation on African immigrants' health care access, health care utilization, and health behavior. Future research might also consider employing national dataset to investigate health care access and utilization among African immigrants in the United States. The study enriches current multicultural health policy, social equity, health care access and utilization, and quality health services for all racial and ethnic population sub-groups in the United States. The study proposes health care reform programs aimed at integrating African-immigrants into the U.S health care system to enhance their effective use of routine, preventive health care services.

PsycINFO Classification Categories and Codes: 3373 – Comunidade e Serviços Sociais; 3365 – Promoção e Manutenção da Saúde e Bem-estar A presente investigação explora de que forma o tipo de território no qual os imigrantes de origem africana residem, bem como a identidade de lugar (IL) e o sentimento psicológico de comunidade (SPC), contribuem para o bem-estar subjetivo dos mesmos. Para o efeito, foi conduzido um estudo quantitativo com 100 imigrantes de origem africana residentes em dois tipos de territórios da área metropolitana de Lisboa, com características sociais e económicas diferentes: um situado na periferia, mais homogéneo, a nível sociocultural e socioeconómico (território A), e outro situado no centro da cidade de Lisboa e caracterizado por uma maior heterogeneidade a um nível sociocultural e socioecónomico (território B). Os resultados sugerem que as três variáveis, em conjunto (território onde os participantes residem, IL e SPC), contribuem significativamente para o bem-estar geral dos imigrantes. Ainda, é no território A, por comparação com o B que a satisfação com as relações pessoais e com o sentimento de pertença à comunidade é maior; enquanto no território B a satisfação com a saúde, com a segurança no local de residência e com a espiritualidade/religião é maior do que no território A. Conclui-se também que o SPC contribui para explicar a felicidade subjetiva. Devido ao papel importante que as populações imigrantes têm tido no crescimento urbano, este tipo de estudos é importante, pois produzem informação sobre esta população que pode ser utilizada no desenvolvimento de projetos mais sustentáveis nas cidades, cada vez mais diversificadas culturalmente. The present investigation explores the way that the territory, in which african immigrants reside, as well as the place identity (PI) and the psychological sense of community (PSC), contributes to their subjective well-being. For this purpose, a study took place in two socially and economically different territories from the metropolitan area of the city of Lisbon, involving a total of 100 african immigrants: one in the suburbs socioculturally and socioeconomically homogeneous (Territory A) and the other, lying in the center of the city of Lisbon, socioculturally and socioeconomically heterogeneous (Territory B). The results suggest that all of the variables (Territory, PI and PSC) contributes significantly to the immigrants general well-being. Furthermore, in Territory A, the satisfaction with personal relationships and the sense of belonging are higher, compared to Territory B, whereas in Territory B the satisfaction with health, safety of the place of residence and spirituality/religion are higher than in Territory A. It is also conclusive, that the PSC helps to understand subjective happiness. Considering the relevant role immigrants have had in urban growth and development, it is important to conduct this kind of studies, in order to retrieve viable information about this population and then apply it in the development of more sustainable initiatives in our increasingly multicultural cities.

African immigrants in the United States (U.S.) experience immense challenges in the form of poverty, unemployment, and underemployment. Limited English language proficiency often restricts African immigrants to low-paying, unskilled positions. Ethnic entrepreneurship in the form of small-scale farming provides some African immigrants with an alternative to mainstream employment. Key to the success of many African immigrants is participation in beginning farmer programs. These programs operate as social networks, connecting immigrant farmers to training, farming resources, and members of the local community who provide access to additional resources and markets. Drawing from social capital theory, this mixed methods study investigates economic outcomes and social capital development within immigrant farmer programs. Immigrant farmer programs are analyzed as social networks that connect immigrants to technical training, farming resources, and community members who can provide access to markets. Data were collected through a survey of 112 agricultural educators working with immigrant farming programs across the United States. Data were also collected through case studies of programs in Ohio and Virginia. Bivariate correlation tests found the following agricultural training topics were significantly associated with economic outcomes, specifically training on farm equipment use, organic certification, and pest management. Ten marketing training topics were associated with economic outcomes, including business management, identifying markets, and introduction to direct markets. Social network ties were also associated with economic outcomes. These relationships were with the following organizations: farmers markets, community-supported organizations, the Extension Service, local farm supply stores, restaurants, and the Farm Bureau. Multiple regression tests found that 24.8% of the variance in economic outcomes could be accounted for by social network development, market training, and agricultural training.

This article aims to analyse some possible contributions from organisations funded by immigrants from the African continent to the socio-cultural integration in three Regions in Spain. In order to do so, first there is a definition of integrations as a process, paying special attention to the role that national and international literature have given to the associations of immigrants. Afterwards, there is a focus on associations from people with an African origin, paying attention to the double view point, from one side the one from representatives from African associations and on the other, from administration technicians and representatives of social entities that collaborate with them. The point is to analyse the speech of those actors, about the reasons of its existence, the objectives and activities of the associations of Africans, for the associates themselves as well as for those immigrants from their countries and for the society that welcomes them. The elements in favour and against in the studied perspectives build an action field shared by both actors, in the process of construction of social cohesion and living partnership, but, at the same time, they suggest the existence of some limitations in itself. El objetivo de este artículo es analizar algunas posibles contribuciones de las organizaciones fundadas por personas emigradas desde el continente africano a la integración sociocultural en tres Comunidades Autónomas españolas. Para ello, se empieza definiendo la integración como proceso, con particular atención al papel que la literatura nacional e internacional ha otorgado al asociacionismo de inmigrantes en él. Posteriormente, se enfoca el caso particular del asociacionismo de las personas de origen africano y su incidencia en la integración en todo lo referido a la interadaptación social y cultural, según la doble mirada que encontramos en las entrevistas realizadas tanto a representantes de asociaciones de africanos como a técnicos de la Administración y representantes de entidades sociales que colaboran con aquellas asociaciones. Se trata de analizar los discursos de aquellos actores, sobre las razones de la existencia, los objetivos y las actividades de las asociaciones de africanos tanto para los propios asociados como para sus inmigrantes connacionales y para la sociedad de acogida. Los elementos de sintonía y discrepancia en las perspectivas exploradas configuran un campo de acción compartido por ambos actores, en el proceso de construcción de cohesión social y convivencia, pero al mismo tiempo sugieren la existencia de algunas limitaciones en el mismo.

African immigrants in the United States (U.S.) experience immense challenges in the form of poverty, unemployment, and underemployment. One strategy used by community development organizations to address these challenges is the development of farm entry programs that assist immigrants in beginning and sustaining farm operations in the United States. Organizations such as Cooperative Extension, resettlement agencies, and African mutual aid associations have developed beginning farmer programs that provide a supportive foundation for immigrant farmers to gain access to farmland, technical training, and markets. Returning to farming provides African immigrants with a series of benefits including supplemental income, food security, and social integration. Drawing upon social capital theory, this study offers a novel approach to measure the community and economic development outcomes of immigrant farming programs. In this mixed-method program evaluation, immigrant farming programs are analyzed as social networks that connect immigrants to technical training, farming resources, and community members who can provide access to markets. Data were collected through a survey of 112 agricultural educators working with immigrant farming programs across the United States. Data were also collected through case studies of a Midwestern program and a Southern program. The case studies include two focus groups and 20 interviews with individuals associated with the programs as participants, agricultural educators, and community partners. Regression tests were conducted to determine the social capital factors associated with well-being outcomes occurring through the programs. The models show that interaction outside of the program, and access to information are positively associated with well-being outcomes. Analysis of variance tests show differences between programs with African immigrant participants and programs with participants from other world regions. Programs with African immigrants tend to have more requirements to use farming resources compared to programs with immigrants from other world regions. Qualitative analysis found that female African immigrant participants have a lower levels of agency compared to male African immigrant participants. The study concludes with a discussion of recommendations for implementing and evaluating immigrant farming programs, as well as applying social capital theory to the field of agricultural education. Ph. D.

Que seja do nosso conhecimento, não existem estudos sobre os efeitos que os estereótipos negativos têm nos comportamentos preventivos de saúde dos imigrantes africanos. Deste modo, os objectivos do estudo consistiram em: estudar o efeito dos estereótipos negativos dos imigrantes africanos nos seus comportamentos preventivos de saúde; e estudar o papel moderador que a integração e a percepção desta integração dos imigrantes africanos, no país de acolhimento, têm neste efeito. Participaram no estudo 42 imigrantes africanos de ambos os sexos, residentes em Portugal. O estudo teve duas fases: numa primeira fase, avaliou-se a percepção de suporte de integração no país de acolhimento e numa segunda fase, avaliou-se o nível de ansiedade, a integração, as atitudes e intenções em realizar rastreio de Tuberculose e HIV (Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana). Os resultados demonstraram um padrão complexo. Em primeiro lugar e ao contrário do esperado, não se verificaram efeitos directos de ameaça de estereótipo nas atitudes e intenções de saúde dos participantes. No entanto, verificaram-se efeitos de interacção significativos entre o efeito de ameaça do estereótipo e variáveis características do tipo de integração no Sistema de Saúde e de percepção de integração em Portugal. Em particular, verificou-se que a frequência do Centro de Saúde surgia como um factor atenuador dos efeitos de ameaça do estereótipo. O mesmo padrão foi verificado também pela identificação com Portugal. Estes resultados são discutidos à luz das teorias sobre os efeitos de ameaça do estereótipo. As far as we know, there are no studies regarding the effects that the negative stereotypes have on preventive health behaviors of african immigrants. Thus, the objectives of the study were: to study the effect of the negative stereotypes of the african immigrants, in their preventive health behaviors, and study the moderating role that the integration and the perception of this integration of the african immigrants, in the host country, has in this effect. 42 african immigrants, of both sexes, living in Portugal, participated in this study. The study took place in two phases: in the first phase, we evaluated the perception of support of integration in the host country; in the second stage, we assessed the level of anxiety, the integration, the attitudes and intentions to perform a screening of Tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The results showed a complex pattern. First of all, and contrary to expectations, there were no direct effects of stereotype threat on health attitudes and intentions of participants. However, there were significant interaction effects between the effect of stereotype threat and variable characteristics of the type of integration in the Health System and in the perception of integration in Portugal. In particular, it was found that the frequency of Health Centre appeared as a factor mitigating the effects of stereotype threat. The same pattern was also verified by identification with Portugal. These results are discussed according with the theories about the effects of stereotype threat.

The views of minority groups who speak on behalf of adopted children in Western countries like Sweden have relevance with regards to enriching the international adoption discourse; and to inform adoption policies in both sending and receiving countries. This study aimed at seeking the views of African immigrants in Sweden on intercountry adoption with the objective of bringing out the meanings they create on the major themes involved to enrich the international adoption debate and to inform policy formation. In all, twenty (20) participants who were grouped into Six (6) focus groups participated. There were mixed opinions on various themes involved. Some of their perspectives were consistent with previous political discourses on adoptions and others were not. These were discussed in the analysis accordingly. Contrary to international conventions, participants showed much relevance to intercountry adoption as against incountry adoption. However, there were predominant views in support of child adoption that is well regulated.

In this paper we present an anthropological approach to the senegalese migration in the province of Buenos Aires and the Ciudad Autónoma of Buenos Aires, in the general context of the African migration to Argentina, particularly characterizing the migratory trajectories, the working activities and the circuits that are performed by these migrants. En este trabajo presentaremos una aproximación a la migración senegalesa en la provincia de Buenos Aires y en la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, ubicándola en el contexto general de la migración africana a nuestro país, caracterizando particularmente las trayectorias migratorias, las actividades y los circuitos laborales de estos migrantes. Neste trabalho apresentamos uma aproximação à migração senegalesa na Provincia de Buenos Aires e na cidade de Buenos Aires, em relaçao ao contexto geral da migração africana na Argentina, concentrando-nos particularmente nas trajetórias migratórias, as atividades do trabalho e os circuitos laborais destes migrantes. Para acceder al Artículo utilice el link: http://revistascientificas.filo.uba.ar/index.php/CAS/article/view/2803

This dissertation describes the educational experiences of Congolese immigrant families and their children attending Philadelphia K-12 schools. The objectives of the study were to explore the educational experiences, needs and expectations of Congolese immigrant parents and their children in the U.S., and to confirm which of the many assimilation theories was applicable to this group of immigrants. The study aimed at providing American schools and curriculum developers with knowledge that they can use to meet the needs of this neglected group of immigrants. Although the number of Congolese immigrant families has been increasing in Philadelphia (Lewis Mumford Center, 2000), there is little knowledge and many faulty assumptions about African immigrants, and particularly, Congolese families. Most of what the American public and American teachers know about Congolese and African immigrants is based solely on biased media coverage, old stories, and myths that are not supported by valid research. African immigrants and their children have been especially excluded from educational research (Rong & Brown, 2002). Scholarship about Congolese immigrants from their African perspective is scarce, if not totally lacking. As a result of the lack of research about African immigrants and their children, not only have the special needs of these immigrants been neglected, but Congolese students in American schools continue to be victims of demeaning treatments and attacks, including violent attacks by some American students motivated by ignorance, prejudice, misconceptions and stereotypes (Traore, 2002; The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 2005). If the presence of Congolese immigrant children continues to be overlooked while the African immigrant population grows, many Congolese immigrant children may develop a dislike or disinterest in school which would place them at-risk for underachievement and dropping out (Stringfield & Land, 2002). The growing number of African immigrant children in American schools also poses new and different challenges for American education generally (Traore, 2002). Therefore, research on this group of immigrant children is much needed. A qualitative study using observations, individual and group interviews, and questionnaires was conducted among a group of African immigrants represented by families of Congolese immigrants including their children living in Philadelphia and neighboring areas. The study found that reasons for coming and staying in the U.S., the threat of losing Congolese identity and culture, parental role reversal, stereotypes, and misconceptions were the most important factors related to their children's experience in American schools. The accommodation `without assimilation' theory (Gibson, 1988) was found to be the most appropriate assimilation theory applicable to these Congolese families. This study provides American teachers, educational leaders and curriculum developers with knowledge and insights based on the voices and experiences of Congolese parents and children. This new knowledge and perspectives can be used to meet the educational needs and expectations of Congolese parents and their children who are experiencing schooling in America.

International audience; The present study (N = 293) examined whether stereotype endorsement and prejudice moderate stereotype lift (i.e., a performance boost caused by the salience of a negative out-group stereotype in the testing situation). The stereotype in the focus of inquiry was the belief that immigrant students have lower intellectual ability than native students. French native high school students performed an intellectual test in a condition of low stereotype salience (the test was presented as assessing individual differences) or in a condition of high stereotype salience (the test was presented as assessing group differences between African immigrants and native students). As expected, results indicated that native students high in stereotype endorsement and those high in prejudice performed better in the high than in the low stereotype salience condition, whereas those low on these constructs did not. By identifying two moderators of stereotype lift, this study sheds new light on the achievement gap between immigrant and native students in educational institutions.

Através da comparação de conexões e interações entre França e África Ocidental e do uso das telecomunicações por imigrantes chegando à França em períodos diversos entre 1965 e 2005, este artigo demonstra a relevância dessas tecnologias de comunicação na (re)definição da distância social e na facilitação do envolvimento continuado de migrantes na tomada de decisões familiares nas suas comunidades de origem. Through the comparison of social connections and interactions between France and West Africa and the use of telecommunications by migrants arriving in France at differing periods between 1965 and 2005, this article demonstrates the significance of these communication technologies in (re)defining social distance and facilitating the continued involvement of migrants in family decision making in the original communities.

The newborn genetic screening for Sickle cell disease (SCT) has taken place on the whole national French territory since year 2000 as a measure for immediate pediatric care and counseling for the purpose of preventing complications of the disease. In spite of this, a few children still die, which seems to be related to the lack of appropriate reaction from the parents toward urgency hospital services. This study aims to answer some of the practitioners' questions upon the families' difficulties in accessing Health care and structures of Hôpital Necker-Enfants-Malades, considering the specificity of this population mostly from Caribbean and African origin. This three years research shows several aspects with particular attention to the parent's observance –the mother's most of the time, in relation with the transformations of their family situation, socioeconomic situation and integration course into French society: 1) Observations in consultations; 2) statistical analysis upon thirty-one family situations including socioeconomic and cognitive parameters 3) qualitative study realized by means of two interviews with each family – father or mother or both- , one of them taking place in the parent's home and the second interview taking place one or two years after the first interview (many testimonies are reported here following thematic classifications). Lack of observance scarcely appears to be related to lack of adherence to the Health care system but rather to material problems combined with personal and cultural attitudes toward the disease in each familial context. If the research allows us to draw some cultural underlines which refer to the geographical and historical backgrounds of these people, it obviously reveals far more the diversity of situations, the singularity of individual's resources, routes and courses. Our results drive us far away from conclusions of some kind of cultural determinism., Depuis l'année 2000, La drépanocytose, maladie grave d'origine génétique, est dépistée à la naissance sur l'ensemble du territoire français et donne lieu à une prise en charge pédiatrique visant à la prévention des complications de la maladie. En dépit de cette prise en charge, des décès sont constatés et mis au compte d'un défaut d'accès au soin en situation d'urgence. Cette étude a pour objectif de répondre à l'interrogation des personnels soignants sur les difficultés d'accès au soin des familles prises en charge dans le service d'hématologie pédiatrique de l'Hôpital Necker-enfants malades, s'agissant d'un population spécifique pour l'essentiel constituée de familles originaires des Antilles et d'Afrique subsaharienne. La recherche conduite sur trois ans comporte plusieurs volets incluant chacun une attention portée à l'observance notamment des mères en relation avec les transformations de leur situation familiale, socio économique et leur parcours d'insertion sociale dans le pays d'accueil : 1) des observations conduites sur les consultations 2) une analyse statistique relative à une trentaine de familles portant sur des paramètres sociaux et économiques et cognitifs 2) une enquête qualitative réalisée au moyen de deux entretiens à un ou deux ans d'intervalle, dont un au domicile de la famille. Le rapport inclut les témoignages ordonnés dans des sous-ensembles thématiques. Les défauts d'observance ne relèvent que très rarement d'un défaut d'adhésion des parents au système de soin, mais de facteurs combinant les difficultés matérielles d'accès au soin avec un vécu personnel et culturel face à la maladie dans chacun des contextes familiaux considérés. Si l'étude permet d'appréhender quelques lignes d'analyse socioculturelle en référence à l'origine des personnes, elle révèle surtout la grande diversité des situations, la singularité des ressources et des parcours, ne laissant aucune prise aux généralités ni aux appréciations culturalistes et déterministes.

There is an on going debate in academia on the health of immigrants in their host countries. Many studies have indicated that immigrants tend to have poor health as compared to the native born population. Researchers in this field however hold divergent views on the causes of the poor health of immigrants. One school of thought attributes poor health of immigrants to premigration period. The contenders of this theory argue that during this period immigrants experience and are subjected to hardships which will affect their health later on in their lives. On the other hand, some researchers view post migration period as an ultimate determinant of the poor health of immigrants in their host country. These researchers ascertain that during this period immigrants are faced with many challenges of adaptation and most often lack good integration in their host countries which hampers their health. The aim of this study is to explore and describe the impact of migration and integration on the health of African immigrants in the Swedish society. A combination of both qualitative and quantitative methods was used to collect and analyze data with the help of the “triangulation “technique. A structured questionnaire was used as a guideline to the in-depth interviews conducted with African immigrants who have lived in Sweden for a period of five to twenty years and plus. Twentyfive African immigrants from fourteen African countries took part in this research. This study was conducted in the city of Linköping in Sweden. Results from this study revealed that majority of African immigrants self rated their health as being good. Many affirm to be in good health. However, a majority of African immigrants reported psychosomatic symptoms such as stress, fatigue, and other illnesses such as high blood pressure, and diabetes. It was also observed that African immigrants hardly seek medical help except when necessary. Health as defined by immigrants is “a combination of physical and mental well being”,” health is ” happiness and joy”, health is “self realization and self esteem”, health is “vitality”, Health is a “sine qua non condition to good life”. However mastery of the Swedish language, and flexible opportunities, which will enable immigrants to access the labor market and be self-sufficient, may improve the immigrants health condition. Also integration of immigrants’ health professionals in the Swedish health care system may be a vital tool to encourage immigrants to seek health attention and improve their health condition.