Critical Public Health
Volume 22, Issue 2, 2012, Pages 147-158

'It's a full time job being poor': Understanding barriers to diabetes prevention in immigrant communities in the USA (Article)

Chaufan C.* , Constantino S. , Davis M.
  • a Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Institute for Health and Aging, School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, 3333 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94118, United States
  • b Institute for Health and Aging, University of California San Francisco, 3333 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94118, United States
  • c Institute for Health and Aging, University of California San Francisco, 3333 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94118, United States

Abstract

This study explores the social determinants of diabetes in a low-income, Latino, and immigrant neighborhood in a Californian city, emphasizing food environments. We conducted focus groups and semi-structured interviews of a convenience sample of staff and clients at a local non-governmental organization. Eight themes emerged as key barriers to healthy eating: (1) cost of food vis-à-vis income; (2) transportation; (3) language; (4) stigma; (5) immigration status; (6) insufficient formal/informal food assistance; (7) work conditions; and (8) competing basic needs/constraints of poverty. We conclude that the public health and health education rhetoric of 'individual choice' is a barrier in itself to understanding the diabetes epidemic, and that without the recognition and understanding of, and intervention upon, socioeconomic, policy, and political barriers to healthy lifestyles, the prevention of diabetes will remain out of reach. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Author Keywords

socioeconomic healthy public policy health inequalities

Index Keywords

physical activity immigrant poverty human diabetes mellitus language United States income semi structured interview socioeconomics eating habit stigma Article health education traffic and transport health care quality health care access employment public health
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84860167780&doi=10.1080%2f09581596.2011.630383&partnerID=40&md5=d12860dabe8cda8038af6f6c85ecc3dd
DOI: 10.1080/09581596.2011.630383
ISSN: 09581596
Cited by: 15
Original Language: English