East African Immigrant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Mixed-methods Evaluation of the Care Experience in a Vulnerable Population

Date
2016
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Abstract
Background: Low rates of post-partum diabetes screening continues to impact the health of immigrant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes and high-risk for the development of future diabetes. The objectives of this study were to explore the diabetes resources available in Calgary and the care experiences of immigrant women. Methods: An online survey was distributed to six health clinics and community organizations involved in the provision of diabetes services to immigrant women. Ten East African women with gestational diabetes were identified and interviewed. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed. Conclusion: The findings of this thesis suggest that current approaches to diabetes education and care in East African women with GDM lack cultural relevance to this high-risk community and do not emphasize the need for ongoing post-partum screening. Diabetes prevention using innovative community-level interventions such as patient navigators and care that engages and empowers women as partners in health are needed. Key words: Gestational diabetes, immigrant women, East Africa, health education, care experience, diabetes, post-partum screening.
Description
Keywords
Education--Health, Public Health
Citation
Siad, F. (2016). East African Immigrant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Mixed-methods Evaluation of the Care Experience in a Vulnerable Population (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/25773