Examining the perceptions of diabetes risk factors among Congolese immigrants in Illinois

Diabetes is increasingly recognized as a serious, worldwide public health concern, due to its prevalence. Many scholars have focused on understanding the distribution of diabetes in terms of race, gender, and age. When considering the distribution of diabetes per ethnicity, researchers agree that African immigrants are not exempt of having diabetes. In addition, several studies argued that primary concerns of diabetes are diet, physical activity, and lifestyle. To further analyzing the study of diabetes distribution per ethnicity, some research focuses on the impact of factors such as diet, physical activity, and lifestyle on African immigrants. The aim of the current inquiry is to shine new light on these debates through an assessment of perception of risk factors associated with diabetes among Congolese immigrants by demographic-based. To accomplish such aim, a cross-sectional study was used to examine subjective responses on their perception of risk factors towards diabetes among Congolese living in the Champaign-Urbana area. A nonprobability sampling approach will be used to collect data on participants’ perception and risk factors of diabetes. The guiding research questions are: (1) What are the demographic rates associated with the distribution of diabetes’ perception of risk factors? And (2) What types of aspects increase the likelihood of risk factors in regards to diabetes? We hypothesize that more female Congolese will perceive diabetes risk factors than male Congolese. We also expect that education level will be the predictor of diabetes risk among Congolese immigrants. While this study sheds light on the perception of risk factors associated with diabetes among Congolese immigrants, it nuances the findings when it comes to the interplay between ethnicity and diabetes. The implication of the current study will be crucial in addressing cultural competency discourse.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Community Health

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2016

Author dc:creator

• Tshiswaka, Daudet Ilunga

Contributors dc:contributor

• Alston, Reginald J.
• Graber, Kimberly C.
• Iwelunmor, Juliet E.
• Farner, Susan M.

• Congolese
• diabetes

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2016 Daudet Ilunga Tshiswaka

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/90801

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/90801