DIABETES MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF PALESTINIAN REFUGEE WOMEN IN REFUGEE CAMPS IN JORDAN.
Contributors: University Of Illinois At Chicago, Health Sciences Center.
Published: 1996
Number of pages: 262
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Physiological.; Sociology, Individual and Family Studies.
Description: This study describes Palestinian refugee women's experience and management of diabetes while living in a refugee camp. The effects of their personal status and health on quality of life are also examined. In-depth interviews were conducted in Arabic by the investigator with 42 Palestinian women at two refugee camps in Jordan between February and April of 1994 using a semi-structured interview guide developed by the investigator. The characteristic means of the sample were; age 47, 15 years history as a diabetic, 39 years as a refugee, and married with 7 children.

All were non-pregnant living in the camps and attending the camp clinic; had diabetes for at least three years and needed Insulin for treatment; over age 20; willing to participate and have the interview audio taped. The women's verbal consent to participate was recorded. A 10-point Cantril's Self-Anchoring Striving Scale was used to obtain data on overall life satisfaction. Women rated their satisfaction at the time of interview, before and after the diagnosis of diabetes, before and after refuge, and five years from the interviews. The tape-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed inductively to identify the major categories and themes used to describe their experience.

Most women felt a loss of control in their management of diabetes, that diabetes had a great negative impact on their lives and that they managed the disease 'their own way'. Personal and situational hardships in dealing with their conditions led to inadequate and/or unsafe control over the disease, a recognition that diabetes management included a psychosocial and a medical regimen, and inadequate or declining motivation to continue with the long-term care.

After living with a chronic disease and a long-term chronic refugee status under continuously deteriorating health and living conditions, the women described awareness of unpredictable futures. The themes in their descriptions of the future were hopelessness, inner suffering, uncertainty, and lack of control over diabetes. Islamic teachings, beliefs and values influenced their perception and management of diabetes, and faith in God, family and children were reported as the cornerstones of their lives. Despite their faith, these women are at risk for developing depression and psychosomatic as well as physical problems. The education and health care for refugee women with chronic diseases is recommended as a further research.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-11, Section: B, page: 6850.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO, HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER, 1996.

School code: 0806.