Perceptions of risk factors for diabetes among Norwegian-Pakistani women participating in a culturally adapted intervention

Abstract

Objective: To explore perceptions of diabetes risk factors among Pakistani immigrant women, as part of their explanatory model of the disease, and the changes in these perceptions after a culturally adapted intervention.

Design: Intervention study, carried out in Oslo, Norway, comprising 198 women.

Results: At baseline, about 75% of the women perceived sugar to be a risk factor for diabetes, about 30% mentioned physical inactivity and stress and close to 20% mentioned overweight. Twelve per cent could not identify any risk factors. When asked about foods to include in a diet to prevent diabetes, vegetables were mentioned by 45%, while 33% did not know any foods to include. Among those attending ≥60% of the educational sessions, the proportions mentioning little physical activity (p<0.001), overweight (p=0.001) and family history (p=0.007) as risk factors increased. Furthermore, the proportions mentioning legumes (p=0.001), fish (p<0.001), fibre (p=0.035) or vegetables (p=0.015) as important in a diet to prevent diabetes increased, and the proportion not knowing any food to include was reduced to 10% (p=0.004). Except for little physical activity, similar changes in responses were not registered in the control group.

Conclusions: There is a need for improved knowledge about diabetes prevention among Pakistani immigrant women, and a culturally adapted intervention may contribute to this.