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Gestational diabetes: prospective interview-study of the developing beliefs about health, illness and health care in migrant women.

Hjelm, Katarina ; Bard, Karin and Apelqvist, Jan LU (2012) In Journal of Clinical Nursing 21(21-22). p.3244-3256
Abstract
Aims and objectives. To explore the development over time of beliefs about health, illness and health care in migrant women with gestational diabetes mellitus born in the Middle East and living in Sweden and to study the influence on self-care and care seeking. Background. With today's extensive global migration, contact with the new society/health care confronts the migrant's culture of origin with the culture of the host country. The question is whether immigrants' patterns of beliefs about health, illness and health-related behaviour change over time, as no previous studies have been found on this topic. Design. A qualitative prospective exploratory study. Methods. Semi-structured interviews, with 14 women (28-44 years), on three... (More)
Aims and objectives. To explore the development over time of beliefs about health, illness and health care in migrant women with gestational diabetes mellitus born in the Middle East and living in Sweden and to study the influence on self-care and care seeking. Background. With today's extensive global migration, contact with the new society/health care confronts the migrant's culture of origin with the culture of the host country. The question is whether immigrants' patterns of beliefs about health, illness and health-related behaviour change over time, as no previous studies have been found on this topic. Design. A qualitative prospective exploratory study. Methods. Semi-structured interviews, with 14 women (28-44 years), on three occasions: during pregnancy in gestational weeks 34-38 and three and 14 months after delivery. Results. There was a U-shaped development of beliefs, from focusing on worries about the baby's health during pregnancy and trying to comply with advice from health professionals, particularly a healthy diet, through regression to dietary habits (more sugar, less fibre) and lifestyle held before being diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus three months after delivery, back to a healthy diet/lifestyle and worries 14 months after delivery but then focusing on their own risk, as mothers, of developing type 2 diabetes and being unable to care for the child. Over time, the number of persons perceiving gestational diabetes mellitus as a transient condition decreased. Respondents lacked information about gestational diabetes mellitus, diet and follow-ups. Conclusion. Beliefs changed over time and influenced health-related behaviour. Beliefs about the seriousness of gestational diabetes mellitus among healthcare staff/care organisation influence the development of patients' beliefs and need to be considered in planning care. Relevance to clinical practice. Pregnancy should be used as an opportunity to provide complete information about gestational diabetes mellitus and future health risks. This should continue after delivery and wishes for regular follow-ups should be met. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Clinical Nursing
volume
21
issue
21-22
pages
3244 - 3256
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000310393800027
  • pmid:23083394
  • scopus:84868020400
ISSN
1365-2702
DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2702.2012.04069.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
349f2d93-24f0-4728-878f-9ccada6afba7 (old id 3160551)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23083394?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:12:22
date last changed
2024-03-30 00:40:11
@article{349f2d93-24f0-4728-878f-9ccada6afba7,
  abstract     = {{Aims and objectives. To explore the development over time of beliefs about health, illness and health care in migrant women with gestational diabetes mellitus born in the Middle East and living in Sweden and to study the influence on self-care and care seeking. Background. With today's extensive global migration, contact with the new society/health care confronts the migrant's culture of origin with the culture of the host country. The question is whether immigrants' patterns of beliefs about health, illness and health-related behaviour change over time, as no previous studies have been found on this topic. Design. A qualitative prospective exploratory study. Methods. Semi-structured interviews, with 14 women (28-44 years), on three occasions: during pregnancy in gestational weeks 34-38 and three and 14 months after delivery. Results. There was a U-shaped development of beliefs, from focusing on worries about the baby's health during pregnancy and trying to comply with advice from health professionals, particularly a healthy diet, through regression to dietary habits (more sugar, less fibre) and lifestyle held before being diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus three months after delivery, back to a healthy diet/lifestyle and worries 14 months after delivery but then focusing on their own risk, as mothers, of developing type 2 diabetes and being unable to care for the child. Over time, the number of persons perceiving gestational diabetes mellitus as a transient condition decreased. Respondents lacked information about gestational diabetes mellitus, diet and follow-ups. Conclusion. Beliefs changed over time and influenced health-related behaviour. Beliefs about the seriousness of gestational diabetes mellitus among healthcare staff/care organisation influence the development of patients' beliefs and need to be considered in planning care. Relevance to clinical practice. Pregnancy should be used as an opportunity to provide complete information about gestational diabetes mellitus and future health risks. This should continue after delivery and wishes for regular follow-ups should be met.}},
  author       = {{Hjelm, Katarina and Bard, Karin and Apelqvist, Jan}},
  issn         = {{1365-2702}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{21-22}},
  pages        = {{3244--3256}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Journal of Clinical Nursing}},
  title        = {{Gestational diabetes: prospective interview-study of the developing beliefs about health, illness and health care in migrant women.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2012.04069.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1365-2702.2012.04069.x}},
  volume       = {{21}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}