Canadian Journal of Diabetes
Volume 42, Issue 6, 2018, Pages 632-638

Understanding the Experiences of East African Immigrant Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (Article)

Siad F.M. , Fang X.Y. , Santana M.J. , Butalia S. , Hebert M.A. , Rabi D.M.*
  • a Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
  • b Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
  • c Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, O'Brien Institute for Public Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
  • d Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, O'Brien Institute for Public Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
  • e Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, O'Brien Institute for Public Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
  • f Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, O'Brien Institute for Public Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Department of Cardiac Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Objectives: East African (EA) women are a subpopulation who are at very high risk for gestational diabetes (GDM) and poor obstetric outcomes, but little is known about the care experiences of this understudied group. The objective of this study was to document the impact of a diagnosis of GDM and the perceptions of diabetes care among EA immigrant women. Methods: Semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 EA immigrant women diagnosed with GDM in Calgary; they were recruited from community and tertiary care settings. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using inductive thematic content analysis to explore participants’ experiences when accessing and receiving care. Results: EA immigrant women had varied experiences related to GDM. Thematic analysis revealed the negative impact of GDM diagnoses on women, including the burdens of self-care, fear, community influences and cultural and financial barriers. The positive impacts of the experience of diagnosis noted were primarily in the empowerment to make healthful behaviour changes. Conclusions: Study findings point to the need for more context-specific and culturally appropriate support and care. Diagnoses of GDM extended beyond the individuals affected and impacted their families culturally, psychologically and financially. Addressing the emergent themes during pregnancy is imperative to improving care providers’ engagement with EA immigrant women in postpartum diabetes screening activities and beyond. The findings of this study contain elements transferable to other immigrant groups in similar socioecologic contexts. © 2018

Author Keywords

East Africa qualitative interviews immigrant women gestational diabetes mellitus care experience

Index Keywords

personal experience doctor patient relation cultural anthropology community dynamics behavior change refugee exercise human controlled study ethnology Young Adult Humans migrant psychology Adolescent Canada Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors Behavior Africa socioeconomics clinical article pregnancy cultural factor Article thematic analysis adult awareness health care access patient attitude dietary intake Delivery of Health Care disease burden empowerment patient preference East African high risk patient risk reduction Fear Power (Psychology) Self Care homelessness cesarean section Africa, Eastern patient decision making Diabetes, Gestational Culture health care delivery pregnancy diabetes mellitus
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85048536275&doi=10.1016%2fj.jcjd.2018.01.013&partnerID=40&md5=6e0f0072bebcd56da29ea725aba3253c
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2018.01.013
ISSN: 14992671
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English