Healthcare for All
Exploring the Lifestyle Management of Type 2 Diabetes Among African Immigrants Living in the United Kingdom
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Folashade Alloh, Ann Hemingway, Angela Turner-Wilson
African immigrants have been reported to have higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes than the general population in the UK. This is in addition to the poorer health outcome presented by this population. This calls for the need to explore the management of diabetes among this population, this is to help identify better management regime for this group. A qualitative methodology was adopted with specific focus on the use of constructivist grounded theory to provide theoretical explanation for the management process of diabetes. Twenty-five, semi-structured interviews were conducted among West African immigrants living with type 2 diabetes in London. Audio recordings were transcribed and analysed according to grounded theory methodology to generate the theoretical explanation for the management process. This study found important lifestyle influence on the management process of diabetes among this population while using the information to provide theoretical explanation for management of type 2 diabetes. The findings from this study highlights the need to consider the cultural and lived experiences before migration influence on type 2 diabetes management by healthcare practitioners during management recommendations for this group. This will help achieve better management regime which will greatly impact on the health outcome among this population group.
Ethical Issues in Health Disparities among American Indians/Alaskan Natives
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Jody Long, Robert B Rickle, Rejoice Addae, Beverly Edwards, Larry Morton
Health disparities of New Mexico’s American Indians compared to New Mexico’s white residents and with the national averages for both are reexamined. New Mexico’s American Indians were shown to have higher racial disparities in health than their comparisons with white New Mexico population. Theoretical perspectives that steer away from Eurocentric perspectives are explored. Culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS) are explored to show the effectiveness of the awareness of culture in working with American Indian/Alaskan Natives. Interventions for health disparities are examined with an emphasis on disparities perceived by American Indians/Alaskan Natives. Community-based participatory research is explored to show its effectiveness in working with American Indian/Alaskan Natives populations. A case example is offered of the successful use of community-based participatory research with American Indians/Alaskan Natives populations. The ethical nature of dealing and working with health disparities in American Indians/Alaskan Natives population is discussed, as well as policy implications of these health disparities. Policy implications that focus on American Indians/Alaskan Natives environments and communities would probably be the most beneficial in improving the health and wellness of these populations. Those policies that fail to do so would likely not meet the needs of American Indians/Alaskan Natives population.
Factors Conducive to Mutual Aid among Young People with Chronic Illness
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Steven Sek-yum Ngai
Encouragement of youth mutual aid is growing in momentum with the shift to a strengths approach to youth work that emphasizes building on service users’ strengths and resources. Mutual aid is regarded as particularly useful in helping young people with chronic illness because the provision of professional youth services is usually short-lived due to budget constraints. Given this consideration, this paper provides empirical data about factors conducive to mutual aid and rehabilitation of young people. Based on information from a survey of 400 young people with chronic illness, it shows how youth work facilitates mutual aid among the aforementioned youth population in maintaining balanced coordination, empowerment, altruism, continuity, and sustainability. It also clarifies issues and doubts about the effectiveness and feasibility of youth mutual aid in view of evidence that adult input is required, and that young people are not capable enough of helping themselves. Because young people’s peer grouping tends to aggravate problems through learning of problematic attitudes and behavior and the diffusion of positive responsibility, youth work input is necessary to negate undesirable influences arising from the peer group. Specifically, it is important to prevent youth with chronic illness from forming self-defeating or self-injuring groupings by promoting socially desirable social capital in mutual aid youth groups.
