scholarly journals In Their Own Words: Parents and Key Informants’ Views on Nutrition Education and Family Health Behaviors

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 8155
Author(s):  
Katherine E. McManus ◽  
Adrian Bertrand ◽  
Anastasia M. Snelling ◽  
Elizabeth W. Cotter
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Family Health ◽  
High Body Mass Index ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Poverty Level ◽  
Black African ◽  
Key Informants

Parents, health professionals, and communities are integral in the development of nutrition behaviors that reduce children’s risk for high body mass index (BMI) and chronic disease. The aim of this study was to conduct formative evaluations with key health informants and parents to understand the specific strategies that families use at mealtimes to promote their family’s health, along with the barriers they face in attending current nutrition education programming. Focus groups (in English and Spanish) were conducted with parents (n = 22; 63.64% Black/African American, 13.64% Black but not African American, 18.18% Hispanic/Latinx) whose household was located in a community where 50% of residents’ gross income was ≤185% of the federal poverty level. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six key informants with expertise in family health and nutrition. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify themes across interviews. Six general themes emerged from the interviews including perceptions of health, relationships, health behaviors, facilitators, barriers, and desired changes. Across the six themes, participants responded with suggestions for community-based health promotion programs such as incorporating a broader definition of health to better address the individual and systemic barriers that perpetuate health inequities and make healthy eating difficult. Participants identified stress reduction, health literacy, and cooking knowledge as areas of interest for future programming.

scholarly journals The Development of Health Lifestyles in Families Experiencing Disability

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (7) ◽  
pp. 929-953 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bethany Rigles
Keyword(s):  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Family System ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Key Informants ◽  
Important Contributor ◽  
Health Lifestyles ◽  
Community Norms ◽  
The Family ◽  
Child With A Disability

The family system is an important contributor to one’s development of health lifestyles or the patterns of health behaviors one engages in. Research has yet to explore how health lifestyles develop within families or how disability may affect this process. This study uses qualitative data collected from parents and key informants in two U.S. communities to address this gap in the literature. Findings capture a process through which health lifestyles develop in families with a child with a disability. This process revealed that parents first become more conscious of the importance of health as a result of having a child with a disability, which led to changes in parent identity and was ultimately translated into primarily positive changes to family health behaviors. This process appears to be largely driven by community norms and stigmas associated with disability.

Two Peas in a Pod? An Exploratory Examination Into Cancer-Related Psychosocial Characteristics and Health Behaviors Among Black Immigrants and African Americans

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 1035-1044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Oyare Amuta-Jimenez ◽  
Nafissatou Cisse-Egbounye ◽  
Wura Jacobs ◽  
Gabrielle P. A. Smith
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Black Immigrants ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Psychosocial Characteristics ◽  
Black African

Introduction. Most studies lump Black immigrants (BIs) and African Americans (AAs) as “Black/African American” during investigation. Such categorization assumes that the sociocultural determinants that influence BIs are the same as for AAs. This study attempts to disentangle the AA and BI subgroups to recognize the differences in cancer-related psychosocial characteristics and health behaviors. Methods. Merged data from the Health Information National Survey (2011–2017) were used. Two groups were created: those who identified as AA and those who identified as AA but were born outside the United States (BI). Between-group differences were assessed with Mann–Whitney U and chi-square tests. Results. Positive communication patterns with health care providers were significantly higher among AAs ( M [mean] = 3.41, SD [standard deviation] = 0.68) compared with BIs ( M = 3.28, SD = 0.71) ( p = .004). A greater proportion of BIs indicated that their health was excellent (14.2%), compared with AAs (7.9%). AAs reported higher cancer family history (75.1%) than BIs (46.5%). More AAs had smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime (41.5%) than BIs (16.7%). BIs consumed significantly more fruits each day ( M = 2.77, SD = 1.43) than AAs ( M = 2.40, SD = 1.44) ( p < .001). BIs also reported more physical activity ( M = 2.62, SD = 2.15) than AAs ( M = 2.37, SD = 2.18) ( p = .030). AA women were more likely to have had a pap smear test ( M = 2.07, SD = 1.44) compared with BI women ( M = 1.73, SD = 1.21) ( p = .002). Discussion. Evidence suggests the need to disentangle the “Black/African American” ethnic grouping. Lumping the BI populations together with the AAs, who have been in the United States for generations, may limit the ability to uncover and consequently address culturally driven disease prevention efforts and promote understanding of the biological, environmental, and psychosocial risk factors within Black heterogeneous populations.

scholarly journals Sink or Swim: Virtual Life Challenges among African American Families during COVID-19 Lockdown

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 4290
Author(s):  
Adaobi Anakwe ◽  
Wilson Majee ◽  
Kemba Noel-London ◽  
Iris Zachary ◽  
Rhonda BeLue
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Health Department ◽  
African American Families ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Digital World ◽  
Collaborative Engagement ◽  
American Families

This study explores African American parents’ experiences with using technology to engage their children in meaningful activities (e.g., e-learning) during COVID-19 and its impact on family health. Eleven African American families were recruited through a local health department program from a rural Midwestern community to participate in semi-structured interviews. Majority of participants reported stresses from feelings of “sink or swim” in a digital world, without supports from schools to effectively provide for their children’s technology needs. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of family-school collaborative engagement and empowerment. Digital technology needs to become part of our school education system so that technology use among African Americans is elevated and families protected against future outbreaks. Further research with a more diverse African American sample is needed.

P031 PERCEPTIONS AMONG PATIENTS WITH ULCERATIVE COLITIS: TREATMENT AND SELF MANAGEMENT METHODS

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S65-S65
Author(s):  
Kelli DuBois ◽  
Christine Blake ◽  
Caroline Rudisill ◽  
Sayward Harrison ◽  
James Hébert
Keyword(s):  
Ulcerative Colitis ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Stress Management ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Eligibility Criteria

Abstract Background Patients with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) experience a range of gastrointestinal and extraintestinal symptoms that generate a significant burden on daily life. For the majority of individuals with UC, pharmacotherapy is insufficient to maintain a ‘normal’ lifestyle. Many of those diagnosed with UC seek out complementary or alternative treatments and undertake socio-behavioral and lifestyle adaptations to self-manage disease symptoms, reduce dependence upon pharmaceuticals, and respond to the challenges of living with chronic illness. The purpose of this qualitative study is to describe patient perspectives and experiences with UC treatment and self-management methods. Methods Qualitative data were collected using individual semi-structured interviews to obtain in-depth data reflecting the perspectives and experiences of individuals with UC on treatment and self-management of symptoms. Patients were recruited in collaboration with the Prisma Health Gastroenterology department in Greenville, SC and the Carolina’s Crohn’s and Colitis support group. Eligibility criteria included: 1) diagnosis of UC; 2) duration of illness ≥5 years; and 3) a minimum of one disease flare during the illness trajectory. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo 11 software. Results All participants reported active involvement with a gastroenterologist for disease management and progressive use of medications over the course of their illness in response to disease flares. Most participants identified stress reduction as beneficial to managing their UC. All participants discussed diet as a method to manage their UC. The majority of participants spoke about foods as culprits for symptom incidents. Other participants described dietary intake as essential in managing the severity of their UC and overall well-being. Patients who expressed need for formal mental health treatment perceived little support or assistance among gastroenterologists. Patients who underwent colorectal surgery described a continuing need to self-manage gastrointestinal symptoms. Discussion Patients expressed reliance on physicians for pharmaceutical treatment, yet identified diet restrictions and stress management as a main approach for self-management of UC. Framing patient education on how diet, stress management, and other health behaviors improve immune system functioning may lead to greater long term adoption of health behaviors and improved health outcomes among individuals with UC.

Identifying Communities’ Perspectives on their Health Needs in Impoverished Villages to Guide Non-government Organizations’ Health Promotion Efforts in Guatemala

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 9-20
Author(s):  
Claudia Bale
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Health Care Access ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Community Based Participatory Research ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Non Profit

Objective: The aim of this mixed-methods study is to capture and understand impoverished Guatemalan community members’ perspectives of their own health needs on a community level in order to guide Hope of Life (HOL) Non-Profit organization’s health promotion interventions in the villages they serve. Methods: A modified health needs assessment survey was conducted with 96 participants from four impoverished villages in the department of Zacapa, Guatemala. Survey responses were analyzed for significant differences in 4-item individual, family, and community health scores across demographic variables and significant correlations with reported personal health conditions and children’s health conditions. Five semi-structured interviews were also conducted with community leaders from three of the villages surveyed. Interviews were audio recorded and responses were transcribed verbatim and translated from Spanish to English. Thematic analysis using HyperRESEARCH qualitative analysis software version 4.5.0. was conducted to identify major themes. Results: The mean age of the 96 participants surveyed was 40.4 years and the majority were women, married or in Union, and have children. Women reported a significantly lower individual and family health score than men. The most rural village included in the study had significantly lower family health scores than the three sub-urban villages in the study. Among the personal health problems reported by participants, alcohol consumption, dental problems, and malnutrition were significant predictors of lower individual health scores. Themes that emerged from the interview analysis included the greatest community health needs, perceived negative community health behaviors, barriers to health care access, HOL’s impact, and suggestions for community health promotion.   Conclusion: The results of this study reveal many unmet health needs and barriers to healthcare that Guatemalan village communities face. Community-based participatory research using a mixed approach voices communities’ perspective on their perceived needs and is an important tool to guide non-profit aid and intervention serving impoverished communities.

scholarly journals Prejudicial beliefs and COVID-19 disruptions among sexual minority men living with and not living with HIV in a high SARS-CoV-2 prevalence area

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth C Kalichman ◽  
Renee El-Krab ◽  
Bruno Shkembi ◽  
Moira O Kalichman ◽  
Lisa A Eaton
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
African American Men ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Black African ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
Personal Action ◽  
Male Sex ◽  
Living With Hiv

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound health and social impacts. COVID-19 also affords opportunities to study the emergence of prejudice as a factor in taking protective actions. This study investigated the association of COVID-19 concerns, prejudicial beliefs, and personal actions that involve life disruptions among people not living with and people living with HIV. 338 Black/African American men not living with HIV who reported male sex partners and 148 Black/African American men living with HIV who reported male sex partners completed a confidential survey that measured COVID-19 concern, COVID-19 prejudice, and personal action and institutionally imposed COVID-19 disruptions. Participants reported having experienced multiple social and healthcare disruptions stemming from COVID-19, including reductions in social contacts, canceling medical appointments, and inability to access medications. Mediation analyses demonstrated that COVID-19 concerns and COVID-19 prejudice were associated with personal action disruptions, indicating that these social processes are important for understanding how individuals modified their lives in response to COVID-19. It is imperative that public health efforts combat COVID-19 prejudice as these beliefs undermine investments in developing healthcare infrastructure to address COVID-19 prevention.

scholarly journals Understanding low chemoprevention uptake by women at high risk of breast cancer: findings from a qualitative inductive study of women’s risk-reduction experiences

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tasleem J. Padamsee ◽  
Megan Hils ◽  
Anna Muraveva
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
African American ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
White Women ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Critical Gap ◽  
High Risk Women ◽  
Parent Project

Abstract Background Chemoprevention is one of several methods that have been developed to help high-risk women reduce their risk of breast cancer. Reasons for the low uptake of chemoprevention are poorly understood. This paper seeks a deeper understanding of this phenomenon by drawing on women’s own narratives about their awareness of chemoprevention and their risk-related experiences. Methods This research is based on a parent project that included fifty in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of African American and White women at elevated risk of breast cancer. This specific study draws on the forty-seven interviews conducted with women at high or severe risk of breast cancer, all of whom are eligible to use chemoprevention for breast cancer risk-reduction. Interviews were analyzed using grounded theory methods. Results Forty-five percent of participants, and only 21% of African American participants, were aware of chemoprevention options. Women who had seen specialists were more likely to be aware, particularly if they had ongoing specialist access. Aware and unaware women relied on different types of sources for prevention-related information. Those whose main source of information was a healthcare provider were more likely to know about chemoprevention. Aware women used more nuanced information gathering strategies and worried more about cancer. Women simultaneously considered all risk-reduction options they knew about. Those who knew about chemoprevention but were reluctant to use it felt this way for multiple reasons, having to do with potential side effects, perceived extreme-ness of the intervention, similarity to chemotherapy, unknown information about chemoprevention, and reluctance to take medications in general. Conclusions Lack of chemoprevention awareness is a critical gap in women’s ability to make health-protective choices. Future research in this field must consider complexities in both women’s perspectives on chemoprevention and the reasons they are reluctant to use it.

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