https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2021.10002
Barriers to dietary modifications for people living with type 2 diabetes in a rural indigenous Guatemalan community
Submitted: 27 July 2021
Accepted: 1 September 2021
Published: 16 September 2021
Accepted: 1 September 2021
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
In Guatemala, the prevalence of diabetes continues to increase with a disproportionate burden falling on indigenous rural communities. In this study, we assessed barriers to making dietary modifications for people living with type 2 diabetes in a rural indigenous Guatemalan population. Structed interviews (n=32) were conducted with participants selected from a convenience sample of adults with type 2 diabetes living in villages in and around San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala. Frequencies were calculated for closed-ended questions and content analysis was used to evaluate open-ended questions. Most participants (81%) were women with low-levels of formal education and average daily food expenditure of just over $1 USD. The majority of participants were able to identify foods important in a diabetic diet, however, with significant barriers to making dietary modifications. Commonly cited perceived barriers included high costs of food due to travel and storage, inadequate local access to fresh fruits and vegetables and incompatibility with traditional diet. Several structural and cultural barriers exist to prevent dietary modifications for people living with type 2 diabetes in this rural indigenous population.
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How to Cite
Wilson, J., Svenson, J., Duffy, S., & Schmidt, J. (2021). Barriers to dietary modifications for people living with type 2 diabetes in a rural indigenous Guatemalan community. Healthcare in Low-Resource Settings, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2021.10002