Module 4 SLP

Module 3 – SLP

Elizabeth Davis

Trident International University

Dr. Sharlene Gozalians

13 May 2019

Module 3 – SLP

In a bid to control the prevalence of diabetes among the African Americans, it is important to examine a number of attributes of culture that can empower a person towards changing a behavior. The factors may be positive, existential, and negative. Existential factors may be not harmful but need to be acknowledged. The importance of a family cannot be ignored especially because of the support they provide to diabetic patients. Family is therefore a positive cultural value which will assist in managing diabetes disease. This paper therefore seeks to address how each of the PEN-3 model’s three factors within the dimension of cultural empowerment applies to the African American group.

It is important to explore by identifying several cultural beliefs and practices that are positive, existential and negative. Positive factors are likely to lead to an improvement by reducing the prevalence of diabetes among the African Americans. Existential factors are existing cultural values and beliefs that may have no harmful health consequences. Cultural practices that may act as barriers in controlling the prevalence of diabetes among the African Americans are the negative factors. Example of these negative practices includes poor nutrition leading to obesity.

Positive Factors

The positive factors which will influence management and control of diabetes among the African Americans include spirituality and family. For example, talking about a family affair with diabetes will make a great impact in controlling diabetes among the African Americans. This is because it will create awareness of how to handle and deal with diabetes. Spirituality will have a positive impact in controlling the prevalence of diabetes among the African Americans. African Americans who have spiritual faith are likely to engage in activities which will reduce the prevalence of the disease.

Existential Factors

Existential factors include faith healing. A belief in faith healing is a factor which is likely to reduction in prevalence of diabetes among the African Americans. Individuals who are religious are likely to visit religious leaders to seek healing and intervention. Many individuals confess that they got healed after being prayed for by the Pastors and other religious leaders. This is attributed to believing in faith healing.

Negative Factors

Consumption of “comfort foods” is common in the diet of the African Americans. These foods contain high fat, sugar, and calorie contents. Example of negative cultural factors includes unhealthy traditional foods. Poor nutrition among the African Americans is more likely to lead to obesity. Obesity is one of the conditions which increase the risks of diabetes among the African Americans. These negative factors act as an obstacle in controlling the prevalence of diabetes among the African Americans.

Conclusion

Positive cultural empowerment factors will be helpful in controlling and managing the prevalence of diabetes among the African Americans. Family is a core cultural factor that may resonate well among the African Americans in the fight against the prevalence of diabetes. This is because family plays a significant role in day-to-day care of diabetic patients. Positive factors will generally lead to a decrease in the prevalence of diabetes among the African Americans.

References

Iwelunmor, J., Newsome, V., & Airhihenbuwa, C. O. (2014). Framing the impact of culture on health: a systematic review of the PEN-3 cultural model and its application in public health research and interventions. Ethnicity & health, 19(1), 20-46.

King, C. J., Moreno, J., Coleman, S. V., & Williams, J. F. (2018). Diabetes mortality rates among African Americans: A descriptive analysis pre and post Medicaid expansion. Preventive medicine reports, 12, 20-24.

Purcell, N., & Cutchen, L. (2013). Diabetes self-management education for African Americans: Using the PEN-3 model to assess needs. American Journal of Health Education, 44(4), 203-212.