Living with Diabetes: Personal Interviews with Pakistani Women in Norway

Overview

Journal J Immigr Minor Health

Publisher Springer

Specialties Public Health
Social Sciences

Date 2017 Jul 13

PMID 28698971

Citations 9

Authors

Walaa Abuelmagd

Helle Hakonsen

Khadijah Qurrat-Ul-Ain Mahmood

Najmeh Taghizadeh

Else-Lydia Toverud

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) among Pakistani women in Norway is remarkably high. This study aims to assess how they live with the disease and their response to lifestyle and medical information. 120 Pakistani women living in Norway (mean age: 55.7 years) were personally interviewed about their T2D using a structured questionnaire (response rate: 95%). The participants were first-generation immigrants (mean residence time: 28.7 years) of whom 27% were illiterates. Poor health was reported by one-third, and 71% had developed macrovascular comorbidities. A majority reported physical inactivity and an unhealthy diet included religious fasting. One-third was not able to self-measure their blood glucose. There was a great variation in antidiabetic drug regimens and one-fourth had to use insulin in addition to tablets. Pakistani women in Norway showed suboptimal control of their T2D in terms of lifestyle habits, comorbidities and drug use. Low literacy and cultural factors seem to challenge adherence to lifestyle and medical information.

Citing Articles

Health literacy and self-care among adult immigrants with type 2 diabetes: a scoping review.

Torris C, Nortvedt L BMC Public Health. 2024; 24(1):3248.

PMID: 39578821 PMC: 11583541. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-20749-6.

Epidemiology of diabetes mellitus in Pakistan: a systematic review protocol.

Hasan S, Siddiqui M BMJ Open. 2024; 14(3):e079513.

PMID: 38479742 PMC: 10936511. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079513.

Self-management of type 2 diabetes among Turkish immigrants in Norway: A focus group study.

Cokluk B, Tokovska M J Public Health Res. 2023; 12(1):22799036231154680.

PMID: 36779073 PMC: 9912560. DOI: 10.1177/22799036231154680.

Patient-Centered Care Experiences of First-Generation, South Asian Migrants with Chronic Diseases Living in High-Income, Western Countries: Systematic Review.

Vakil K, Desse T, Manias E, Alzubaidi H, Rasmussen B, Holton S Patient Prefer Adherence. 2023; 17:281-298.

PMID: 36756536 PMC: 9899934. DOI: 10.2147/PPA.S391340.

Social Inequalities and Health among Older Immigrant Women in the Nordic Countries: An Integrative Review.

Debesay J, Nortvedt L, Langhammer B SAGE Open Nurs. 2022; 8:23779608221084962.

PMID: 35647290 PMC: 9133866. DOI: 10.1177/23779608221084962.

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