Public Health
- Theses and Dissertations
Understanding the risk factors for diabetes among African immigrants
in New Zealand.
Lekanatu Guri 2003
Abstract
Objective:
To investigate risk factors for diabetes among African immigrants in
New Zealand, including life style changes, access to information and
behaviour. A secondary
objective is to obtain information that will assist in developing guidelines
on how to educate Africans about diabetes.
Research design and methods:
Thirty participants were recruited for this pilot study using the snowball
sampling technique. Recruitment was restricted to West Africans resident
in Christchurch, and in-depth interviews were conducted. Information was
obtained on help-seeking behaviours, diet, exercise, age, sex, country
of origin, time spent in New Zealand, knowledge of diabetes life style
changes,
weight, and smoking.
Results:
The results of this pilot study indicated that African immigrants in
New Zealand have potential risk factors for diabetes that could be modified
or prevented.
The risk factors included obesity, dieting and lack of physical activity,
lack of knowledge of diabetes and culturally inappropriate ways of providing
health services. Alcohol and smoking were not major risk factors for this
particular group.
Conclusion:
Better information concerning diabetes should be compiled for African
immigrants in New Zealand to improve their knowledge of diabetes. Ways
should be investigated
to improve communication of such information in services which Africans
use, such as maternity services and primary health care.
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