Exploring Health Beliefs and Practices of Caribbean Immigrants in Ontario to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the beliefs held by adult Caribbean immigrants regarding type 2 diabetes (T2D) and their practices in preventing it. A purposive sample of 15 immigrants living in Ontario, Canada participated in the study. Semistructured interviews were used to collect data from participants. Four themes emerged from the data: beliefs that protect participants from developing T2D, cultural practices to stay healthy, preserving culture through preparation of meals, and cultural practices determine number of servings of fruit and vegetables per day. Findings indicate how beliefs and cultural practices influence prevention of T2D and the need to design culturally tailored interventions for ethnic groups. Future research should explore health beliefs and cultural practices of other high-risk groups and use their findings to design and evaluate culturally tailored interventions to prevent T2D.