Foot Health Assessment and Problem Identification in a Dominican Batey Community: A Descriptive Study.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Podiatry
• Immigrant Health

Background:

• Foot problems significantly impact foot function and quality of life.
• Limited healthcare access in rural communities, such as Dominican Republic bateyes, often leads to overlooked foot health issues.
• The foot health of Haitian immigrants in these communities is largely unknown, yet critical for their ability to work.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and describe the prevalence of foot problems among Haitian immigrants in Dominican Republic bateyes.
• To understand the potential impact of these foot problems on the workers' function and livelihood.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, exploratory, descriptive study design was employed.
• Participants were recruited from a mobile hypertension screening program in 11 batey communities.
• Foot health was assessed using a 24-item Foot Problems Checklist via visual inspection and physical examination by a certified foot care nurse.

Main Results:

• All 41 participants (25 female, 16 male, aged 18-90) reported at least one foot health problem.
• The most prevalent issues included calluses (78%), dry skin (76%), and thick nails (59%).
• Other common problems were jagged nails (29%), long/overgrown nails (17%), and skin fissures (12%).

Conclusions:

• Observed foot problems, though not initially severe, pose a risk of becoming debilitating.
• Effective self-management, supported by knowledge, skills, and resources, is key for prevention.
• Mobile clinic-delivered foot care self-management interventions are recommended to improve access and outcomes.