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Factors promoting diabetes self-care among low-income, minority pregnant women

Journal of Perinatology volume 36, pages 13–18 (2016)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To prospectively identify factors promoting healthy self-management of gestational and type 2 diabetes mellitus among underserved pregnant women.

Study design:

Twenty-nine in-depth, semi-structured interviews were performed over the course of pregnancy for 10 women with diabetes. Interviews on factors promoting diabetes self-management used cognitive load theory to frame questions. Qualitative analysis of longitudinal interview data applied grounded theory techniques to generate themes.

Result:

Half this cohort of minority, low-income, public aid-supported women had type 2 diabetes. Four themes, comprised of both internal self-driven motivators and external sources of support, were identified. These themes were: (1) disease familiarity and diabetes self-efficacy; (2) external motivation (for health of fetus and responsibilities to older children); (3) supportive social and physical environment; and (4) self-regulatory behavior, including goal responsiveness and long-term goal-setting.

Conclusion:

Low-income women used multiple internal and external resources to promote health during a pregnancy complicated by diabetes. Successful behavior modification and achievement of diabetes care goals require leveraging these resources.

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Acknowledgements

Supported by a grant from the Evergreen Invitational Women’s Health Grants Initiative and the Northwestern Memorial Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    L M Yee, J M McGuire, S M Taylor, C M Niznik & M A Simon

  2. Departments of Preventive Medicine and Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    M A Simon

Authors
  1. L M Yee
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  2. J M McGuire
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  3. S M Taylor
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  4. C M Niznik
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  5. M A Simon
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Correspondence to L M Yee.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Presented at the 2014 International Conference of Endocrinology/Endocrine Society 96th Annual Meeting and Expo as a poster presentation (poster SUN-1039).

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Yee, L., McGuire, J., Taylor, S. et al. Factors promoting diabetes self-care among low-income, minority pregnant women. J Perinatol 36, 13–18 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2015.134

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