Reducing the risk of heart disease among Indian Australians: knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding food practices – a focus group study (original) (raw)
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This study describes Asian Indian immigrant perspectives surrounding dietary beliefs and practices to identify intervention targets for diabetes and heart disease prevention. Participants were asked about conceptualizations of relationships between culture, food, and health during 4 focus groups (n = 38). Findings reveal influences of beliefs from respondents' native India, preservation of cultural practices within the US social structure, conflicts with subsequent generations, and reinterpretation of health-related knowledge through a lens, hybridizing both " native " and " host " contexts. Galvanization of ethnically valued beliefs incorporating family and community structures is needed for multipronged approaches to reduce disproportionate burdens of disease among this understudied minority community.
Appetite, 2018
South Asians are a growing migrant population, both globally and in Australia. This group are at higher risk for both cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The aim of this qualitative study was to examine dietary practices of South Asians, n=41 (Indian, n=25; Sri Lankan, n=16) and Anglo-Australians, n=16, with these conditions, using semi-structured indepth interviews. Findings suggest that both groups had a high level of awareness of dietary practices necessary for optimum disease management, both prior to and post diagnosis. Bidirectional effects of migration were noted in the dietary practices of both groups suggesting hybrid diets are evident in Australia. A key barrier to implementing dietary changes highlighted by both groups of participants, was a lack of specific, timely and detailed dietary advice from clinicians. In addition South Asian participants wanted more culturally relevant advice and both groups expressed that such advice should be repeated and reinforced throughout the course of their disease. Clinicians providing dietary advice need to recognise that preferences for staple food items are resistant to change and may affect adherence. Acculturation was evident in the dietary practices of the South Asian participants. Nevertheless, many maintained traditional food practices which were tied to their cultural identity. It is recommended that clinicians consider these factors when offering advice.
Lifestyle of Asian Indians with coronary heart disease: The Australian context
Collegian, 2008
This paper aims to report lifestyle factors of Asian Indians in Australia in relation to coronary heart disease. This issue has not been previously explored in the Australian context. This study also seeks to identify factors that could inform health education and rehabilitation programs for migrant Asian Indians in Australia. The qualitative descriptive approach of constructivism was used for this study. Semi-structured, in-depth conversations were conducted with eight patients and five family members. Participants were at risk for coronary heart disease either due to unhealthy diet and/or lack of physical exercise and irregular health checks. Although lifestyle modifications were implemented by participants after the cardiac event; these changes were implemented inconsistently and without continuity. Knowledge of the beneficial effects of a healthy diet did not deter the participants from continuing to follow unhealthy dietary habits. The introduction of any exercise or physical activity by participants in this study lacked consistency. A positive aspect revealed from this study was the influence of culture and religious faith, which helped patients and family members to cope with the illness trajectory. The results of this study suggest that health education and rehabilitation programs need to be designed specifically for this high-risk group would be beneficial when initiated early in life and need to be targeted to the individual.
The Association between Acculturation and Dietary Patterns of South Asian Immigrants
PLoS ONE, 2014
Dietary acculturation, specifically the adoption of western dietary habits, may result in adverse health effects such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the role of acculturation in dietary patterns as well as awareness and knowledge of healthy nutrition among South Asian immigrants. This is an especially important population to target as South Asians have higher prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which may be magnified with immigration. The current investigation is a sub-study of the Multi-Cultural Community Health Assessment Trial (M-CHAT). There were 207 participants of South Asian origin included in the initial study, 129 were born outside of Canada and had immigrated after the age of 18. The length of residence in Canada was used as a marker for acculturation. A questionnaire addressing perceived changes in dietary patterns, food preparation, and nutrition knowledge and awareness since immigration was used to assess dietary practices. The association between length of residence and variables related to perceived changes in dietary patterns was explored with Spearman correlation and significant associations were subsequently analyzed with ordinal logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, education and body mass index. South Asian immigrants in Canada reported a variety of positive dietary practices, including an increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and an improvement in food preparation (including an increase in grilling and a decrease in deep frying when cooking). However, there was a reported increase in the consumption of convenience foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, red meat and in dining out. South Asian immigrants in Canada reported a variety of positive dietary practices including an improvement in food preparation. Future health promotion strategies should encourage cultural sensitivity in efforts to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverage, convenience foods and to encourage eating at home rather than dining out.
Indian cultural practices and health risk
International Journal of Human Sciences, 2011
This paper aims to report the cultural lifestyle factors of Asian Indians in Australia in relation to Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). This issue has not been previously explored in the Australian context. This study also seeks to identify factors that could inform health education and rehabilitation programs for migrant Asian Indians in Australia. The qualitative descriptive approach of constructivism was used for this study. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with eight patients and five family members. Participants were at risk for coronary heart disease either due to unhealthy diet and/or lack of physical exercise and irregular health checks. Although lifestyle modifications were implemented by participants after the cardiac event, these changes were implemented inconsistently and without continuity. Knowledge of the beneficial effects of a healthy diet did not deter the participants from continuing to follow unhealthy dietary habits. The introduction of any exercise or physical activity by participants in this study lacked consistency. A positive aspect revealed from this study was the influence of culture and religious faith, which helped patients and family members to cope with the illness trajectory. The results of this study suggest that health education and rehabilitation programs need to be designed specifically for this high-risk group would be beneficial when initiated early in life and need to be targeted to the individual.
This study explored the health beliefs about eating habits and physical activity (PA) of Surinamese immigrants of Indian (Hindustani) descent to examine how health education messages to prevent obesity can be made more culturally sensitive. Indians are known for their increasing obesity incidence and are highly vulnerable for obesity-related consequences such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Therefore they might benefit from culturally sensitive health education messages that stimulate healthy eating habits and increase PA levels. In order to examine how health education messages aimed at preventing obesity could be adapted to Indian culture, we interviewed eight Hindustanis living in The Netherland, and conducted two focus groups (n = 19) with members from a Surinamese Hindustani community. Results showed cultural implications that might affect the effectiveness of health education messages: karma has a role in explaining the onset of illness, traditional eating habits are ...
Nutrition & Dietetics, 2011
Aim: To investigate the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics, acculturation, weight status and dietary intake among a group of women from India and Pakistan living in Brisbane, Australia. Methods: Cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of 22 women that collected: socio-demographic details; levels of acculturation; food intake using a specifically designed food frequency questionnaire and food diary; and anthropometric measurements. Data were compared with women from South Australia. Results: Women had a mean age of 38 years (24-50) and had been in Australia for an average of 4 years (1-25). Half (50%) of the women were categorised as overweight or obese and over two-thirds (68%) had a waist measurement indicative of a high risk of chronic disease. A higher proportion of women from Pakistan were overweight and obese compared with Indian women. Women in this sample appeared to have a higher consumption of dairy, bread and cereals, vegetables and baked goods/snacks and were more likely to consume full-fat milk compared with other Australian women. Breakfast was the meal most likely to have been 'Australianised'. Conclusion: Despite the results not reaching statistical significance, these findings do point to areas worthy of further investigation. These include the relationship between acculturation factors with dietary intake and the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Given the high prevalence of overweight and obesity in this small sample, there appears to be a need to investigate diet and physical activity in specific groups to inform the development of culturally relevant chronic disease identification and management programmes.
2018
Objective: The aim of the study was to identify and explore main issues relating to knowledge, attitudes and practices to lifestyle risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) and Diabetes amongst South Asians in North Kirklees, UK. Design: A comparative study. Place and duration of study: The study was conducted in North Kirklees, UK from April 2001 to March 2002. Material and Method: A focus group approach from qualitative research methodology was used. South Asians already attending community centers for different activities were selected randomly. Group discussions were taped and translated. Main issues were identified by analyzing these transcripts using qualitative methodology. Results: A variety of attitudes and different levels of knowledge and practices to lifestyle risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) and Diabetes have been observed. The main issues identified were language barrier, lack of individually tailored information, cultural and religious barriers such ...
Ethnicity & disease, 2004
The focus groups were utilized to gather information on the perceptions of cardiovascular risk within the Asian Indian community, and to identify opportunities to design health promotion and intervention programs for Asian Indian communities. Qualitative methods were utilized to obtain perceptions of cardiovascular risk within 3 Asian Indian communities. Eight focus groups were conducted in either English or Punjabi. These focus groups were conducted as part of a 3-year community-based participatory research project examining cardiovascular risk factors among the Asian Indian population in Northern California. Focus group participants were selected through referrals from community-based organizations, postings in local community centers, and businesses. Fifty-seven men and women were recruited using snowball sampling. Six themes emerged from the focus groups: knowledge of cardiovascular disease, health and cultural concerns regarding diet, physical activity levels, stress as a facto...