Dementia knowledge in African immigrants with personal experiences of dementia

AbstractBackgroundThere is a dearth of research on dementia knowledge, care and caregiving with African immigrants. This study describes current understanding of dementia and its correlates with first and second generation African immigrants who have personal experiences of dementia. Our data comes from the Immigrant Memory Collaborative; a community‐based participatory research project that explored dementia care needs and resources in the African immigrant community.MethodLinear regression models were used to describe factors associated with dementia knowledge, including causes and characteristics, communication and behavior, care considerations, and risks and health promotion.ResultOf the 193 participants, 64% were male and 81% were caregivers. The mean age of the sample was 36 (±13.8) years, but first‐generation participants were older (44.3 ±17.2 years; compared to 30.6±7.1years). Women had lower dementia knowledge (b: ‐1.39 95% CI [‐2.58, ‐0.202]) compared to men, while people who were single had higher dementia knowledge (b: 1.36, 96% CI [0.28, 2.43]) and those who would seek care at health related organizations and community based networks had higher dementia knowledge compared to those who would turn to community based networks alone (b: 1.53 95% CI [0.499, 2.56]).ConclusionUnderstanding the correlates of dementia knowledge will inform target areas for dementia literacy interventions with the growing African immigrant population. Our results show that individual factors (sex and marital status) and where an individual would seek care are important correlates of dementia knowledge. Informal community based networks are an important target area for dementia and other health literacy interventions.