Lived Experiences of Nigerian Immigrants with Type 2 Diabetes in a Large Metropolitan Area in North Texas

Date of Conferral

10-26-2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Services

Advisor

Loretta Shields

Abstract

Diabetes is a prevalent disease all over the world. Diabetes is the result of an uneven body response to insulin or inadequate production of insulin, which eventually affects blood sugar. Africans who immigrate to the United States are likely to have higher rates of prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to the U.S.-born population. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of T2D patients who are Nigerian immigrants in a large metropolitan area in North Texas. The conceptual framework for this study was Urie Bronfenbrenner’s social–ecological model. Among the five levels of influence of the social–ecological model, the levels of influence used in this study were organizational, community, and public policy. A purposive sample of 10 Nigerian immigrants with T2D were recruited for in-depth interviews. Audio recordings of the data were transcribed and manually analyzed. Analysis of the collected data revealed the following five themes: (a) diabetes led to change in diet, (b) patients manage diabetes through self-care and medication, (c) patients perceive that living with T2D is quite challenging, (d) family members are key pillars of support for this population, and (e) patients perceive that diabetes support groups are useful. The results of this study have potential implications for positive social change that include a better understanding of Nigerian immigrants’ experiences of diabetes and their encounters which could lead to established policy and customized social support programs and community support to improve the quality of life for these individuals, their families, and ultimately their communities.

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