Perceptions and Meanings of Type II Diabetes among Mexican American Farmworking Women Participants equated diabetes to complications, amputations and …
Perceptions and Meanings of Type II Diabetes among Mexican American
Farmworking Women
Olivia Lopez, MSW
School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine how Mexican American
farmworking women make meaning of their broader experiences with type II
diabetes mellitus
Methods: This study utilized a qualitative research methodology known as a
phenomenology A phenomenological study refers to naturalistic observations
and holistic understandings of cultures or subcultures A non-probability
sample of 17 Mexican American farmworking women was recruited from
Californias San Joaquin Valley in the summer of 2005 In-depth, audio-
recorded interviews were conducted to explore four categories related to
type II diabetes: 1 knowledge of illness, 2 causation, 3 treatment
strategies and 4 illness perception and meaning
Findings: Knowledge of Illness: Participants reported having symptoms of
high blood glucose levels for years before seeking medical treatment, and
often they found out they had diabetes after having been to the doctor for
other reasons such as,
pregnancy or surgery
Causation: Overwhelmingly, participants cited susto fright as the cause
of diabetes Susto is one of the most common ethno-specific illnesses in
the Mexican American culture Participants reported that susto caused a
transformation of the blood which altered and weakened the pancreas
allowing diabetes to unfold in their body
Treatment Strategy: By and large participants favored home remedies
Participants believed home remedies were more effective in reducing
symptoms of high blood glucose; although, participants incorporated
medication into their treatment strategy Several participants reported
taking home remedies prior to taking prescribed medications Others
reported alternating intervals between home remedies and prescribed
medications Participants taking medications reported specific medication
dosing strategies episodes of high glucose levels
Illness Meaning and Perceptions: Participants perceived the diabetic
dietary recommendations as repressive resulting in food deprivation and
depletion of essential vitamins needed for stamina required for farmwork
This diet jeopardized employment, created family discord and marital
conflict and decreased sexual
intimacy Participants equated diabetes to
complications, amputations and premature death Overall, diabetes was
interpreted as the kiss of death by farmworking women
Conclusions: The data show that farmworking womens perception of diabetes
are largely the function of cultural beliefs and practices, and often
inconsistent with medical definitions Medical practitioners must involve
the perceptions of diabetes among farmworking women in the provision of
services Participants willingness to include western medicine into
cultural treatment practices and coordinating efforts among practitioners
to incorporate cultural beliefs and practices into treatment can serve as
an introduction towards development of effective and meaningful diabetes
management strategies among this population
Source:qsource.org
