The Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Nicaraguan Immigrants in Costa Rica
Level of Education of Students Involved
Undergraduate
Faculty Sponsor
Bailey Regier
College
College of Nursing & Health Professions (CONHP)
Discipline(s)
Public Health
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Symposium Date
Fall 4-24-2025
Abstract
During Valparaiso University's annual service learning trip to Costa Rica in March 2024, five public health clinics were conducted in the communities of La Carpio, Boca Arenal, and San Gerardo, which held a combined population of approximately 69,000 at the time, most of which were Nicaraguan immigrants. These clinics were led by students and translators, small groups of which were sent out each day to conduct home visits within these neighborhoods to gather qualitative and quantitative data, including demographic information, details about the home environment, health insurance status, reasons for immigrating to Costa Rica, and perception of health threats from their members. Participants' blood pressures were also collected. A total of seventy-nine families provided us with invaluable information, which helped us answer questions surrounding the impact of social determinants of health on Nicaraguan immigrants in Costa Rica in several areas, as well as gain insight into the perception and prevalence of chronic and preventable disease in these communities. Some findings of interest from this sample of participants were that the main reason for immigrating to Costa Rica as poor economic conditions in Nicaragua, the average blood pressure was 130/78, and that the two are potentially related. We were also able to obtain an understanding of the perception of Nicaraguan immigrants towards the Costa Rican public healthcare system. It is hoped that more data can be collected on how to assist the three above mentioned communities and better their health status in the future.
Recommended Citation
Stillion, Callie, "The Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Nicaraguan Immigrants in Costa Rica" (2025). Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 1412.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/cus/1412
Biographical Information about Author(s)
Callie Stillion is studying public health at Valparaiso University. Her interest in the health of Central Americans sparked when, at the age of eight, her family began sponsoring a child in Guatemala, and she was provided with the opportunity to research this topic in Costa Rica in March of 2024. Callie hopes to pursue her Master's in Public Health or her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy after she completes her undergraduate degree in May of 2026.