Open AccessAboriginal perspectives of diabetes in a remote community in the Northern Territory
Author(s) -
London Jason A.,
Guthridge Steven
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-842x.1998.tb01478.x
Subject(s) - worry , diabetes mellitus , medicine , population , gerontology , family medicine , environmental health , psychiatry , anxiety , endocrinology
This study explores the knowledge and beliefs of diabetes in a group of Aboriginal people from a remote community in the Northern Territory. Information was gathered from participants through a combination of group discussions, semi‐structured interviews and informal conversations. The four themes of explanation of diabetes were: worry, food, family and infections. The most common means of preventing or treating diabetes were stopping worry and changing one's diet. Significantly, few of the participants believed that medication was effective, and weight loss and exercise were not mentioned. The results highlight the miscommunication about diabetes that has occurred in this population. For effective communication and management of diabetes, health information must incorporate the contemporary health beliefs of the clients.