Overview, Inhabited Localities, and Topography

Hispaniola

Hispaniola occupies one-third of Haiti Island, with the Dominican Republic occupying the other two-thirds. On the north, the Atlantic Ocean borders Hispaniola, and on the south, the Caribbean Sea. The Cuban nation occupies the western part of Haiti Island. Haiti’s physical size is 10,712 square miles, and the topography is primarily mountainous. The weather is tropical. Because the island is tropical, it is vulnerable to vector-borne diseases like Malaria, Zika, Dengue, and Plasmodium Falciparum. Falciparum malaria is endemic in Haiti, with an annual incidence of roughly 1,278 per 100,000 individuals (Purnell, 2015, p. 16). The Zika virus transmission gets reported in January 2016, and the consequence of the infection is felt during pregnancy thus travel advisory insists on consultation with CDC before travel. On the other hand, Dengue is endemic in the Haiti where most cases get reported among US missionaries and military personnel.

Population

A 2002 population estimate data indicated a population of 7,063,722 in Haiti. Therefore, in a square mile, there are about 659 people who differ with the US as there 30 people in a square mile. Haiti is thus a relatively high populated region with a high population density for a small country. In the Western Hemisphere, the country is the poorest with a per capita GDI of $480 in the year 2010 compared to the U.S GDI OF $34,100 in the same year. As per the WHO organization, overcrowded areas are prone to transmit diseases such as acute respiratory infections, cholera, scabies and meningitis and the high the population density the more frequent the outbreaks.

History

The country has faced immense struggles. Columbus in 1492 discovered the nation and the Spanish set up agricultural settlements in the region and used the locals as laborers. However, in 1804 after slaves’ revolts, the Island declared independence from France and became a free republic. The culture divide is still dominant where the country has two classes: the elite and the peasants. The elite are the light-skinned Haitians and the mulatto while the farmers are primarily the dark-skinned. The elites speak French and live in town, and the peasants occupy the rural areas and speak Creole.

Immigration Reasons

The move to the U.S was due to the economic and political instability in the region. During the early 1980s, they arrived in the U.S while escaping the repression and violence of the Baby Doc’s regime. The immigrants at that time were regarded as the “Boat People” as they arrived in the country in small boats.

Areas the immigrant settled

The parents first settled in Miami but in 1996 moved to New York. The poor living conditions in Miami heightened the reemergence of the tropical diseases brought from Haiti. Despite staying in the U.S for 30 years, the immigrant recalls the post-traumatic stress disorders related to staying in refugee camps that the parents underwent. There was a host of communicable disease and infectious disease that those in the camp faced and included TB.

Educational Status

Haiti is an Island with limited education. Despite the school system and theory introducing free education, the cost of the supplement is too high hindering the poor from attending school. In the U.S parents from Haiti send their children to Catholic schools since they believe that such schools place emphasis on discipline and they trust that it is a mark of success and social status (Cartwright & Shingles, 2011, p. 78). Haitians in the U.S aim to quickly complete high school and attain their high school equivalency before graduating. Haitians in the U.S and in the Island, a college degree is highly valued and is a sign of status.

Occupation

Practicing law has afforded the immigrant income level that provides an opportunity to provide medical care, dressing, and devices that are prescriptive. Providing healthy diets is not a problem for the lawyer and easily affords health insurance as her salary is sufficient.

References

Cartwright, L., & Shingles, R. R. (2011). Cultural Competence in Sports Medicine. London: Human Kinetics.

Purnell, L. (2015). The Purnell Model for Cultural Competence. The Journal of Multicultural Nursing and Health, 7-18.