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Ann Mitchell

What does Type 2 diabetes mean for Guyanese women living in the UK. Ann Mitchell. Guyana. on north east coast of South America 83,000 square miles Population <1 million Highly complex ethnic group with a great diversity of beliefs 90% Asian and African. Who are Guyanese people?.

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Ann Mitchell

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  1. What does Type 2 diabetes mean for Guyanese women living in the UK Ann Mitchell

  2. Guyana • on north east coast of South America • 83,000 square miles • Population <1 million • Highly complex ethnic group with a great diversity of beliefs • 90% Asian and African

  3. Who are Guyanese people?

  4. Migration to England • Political crisis in Guyana during 1960’s and 70’s • Severe shortage of nurses (Behishon et al 1995 • For academic study

  5. To explore how Guyanese women who migrated to UK, make sense of, experience and manage Type 2 diabetes To assist health care practitioners and policy makers to deliver appropriate diabetic services to these women Aims of study

  6. Type 2 diabetes is a long term condition with serious negative consequences People from South Asian descent and African Caribbean ethnic groups are particularly at risk (DH 2007) By focusing on a specific minority population (Guyanese), rich insightful data can be obtained which have the potential to provide insight into the needs of a broader ethnic population Rationale for study

  7. Justification for study • This study looks to develop a rich insight into the perspectives of Guyanese migrant women who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes • Aim is to obtaining more valid and better informed insights into their values, thoughts, feelings and behaviours related to their diabetes management

  8. …by asking the key questions: • Do cultural beliefs and standpoints influence their diabetes management behaviour? • Do their spiritual assumptions influence their health seeking behaviour? • Are there any social pressures that influence their help- seeking behaviour?

  9. Background to study • Type 2 diabetes has a long- and well-established literature both generally and in terms of specific minority groups • Management by conventional medicine involves compliance with prescribed medication and lifestyle change • Health beliefs and diverse influences arising from biomedicine and complementary and alternative medicine may dictate whether individuals seek help or not.

  10. Biomedical model Alternative health systems – such as Ayurvedic or Chinese Traditional Medicines Complementary therapies – such as herbalism Cultural challenges – such as a traditional diet, HIV-AIDS Spiritual beliefs, such as in obeah Different discourses framing Type 2 diabetes

  11. Methodology - Social constructionist approach • Qualitative study that looks to the meaning of experiences and accepts multiple knowledges • Small purposeful sample • Research methods: • focus groups • biographical narrative interviews • diaries • Analysis – grounded theory approach

  12. Preliminary Findings • The biomedical model is the commonly preferred choice of treatment in these populations • However sometimes a combination of complementary and alternative medicine chosen • Ethnic minority women are held to have an ‘inadequate knowledge’ of this condition • Cultural standpoint can influence diabetes management • Spiritual beliefs can also influence management

  13. Conclusions • Guyanese women are under-researched – there is a need to capture their lost voices rather than treating them as one homogenous group • Guyanese migrant women are an ageing population and so may require specific health care services • Cultural and spiritual standpoints are important when services are provided for these women to help them manage their diabetes

  14. References • Anderson R M and Funnell M M (2000) Compliance and Adherence are Dysfunctional concepts in Diabetes care. The Diabetes Educator. 26. No 44. p.597 – 604. • Awah P H, Unwin N and Phillimore P (2008) Cure or control; complying with biomedical regime of diabetes in Cameroon. BMC Health Services Research. 8:43. p.1-11. • BMA (2004) Diabetes Mellitus – An update for Health Care Professionals. BMA publication unit. • Chacko E (2003) Culture and therapy: complementary strategies for treatment of Type 2 diabetes in urban setting in Kerala, India. Social Science and Medicine. 56, p.1087-1098. • Department of Health (2007) Working together for better diabetes care. London: DH • Finlay L (2006) Qualitative Research for Allied Health Professionals.Ed. Chichester: John Wiley

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