Dataset Information

Health promotion in emerging collectivist communities: A study of dietary acculturation in the South Sudanese community in Logan City, Australia.

ABSTRACT:

Issue addressed

Understanding dietary acculturation within collectivist communities is required to develop and tailor appropriate health promotion strategies to prevent diet-related chronic diseases. This research explores the journey of the South Sudanese community living in Logan City, Australia in establishing new norms around food choices and practices over time.

Methods

Three semi-structured group interviews and a final community forum of women (n = 20) from the South Sudanese community were conducted. These explored changes in and influences on dietary practices post-settlement. Sessions were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed using inductive and deductive approaches. Feedback on findings from participants and community members was incorporated.

Results

Participants reported dietary acculturation phases, including assimilation, reflection and separation, with a return to traditional foods over time. Factors influencing the transition between phases included; the characteristics of the collectivist community such as shared knowledge, experiences and resources, increased accessibility to traditional foods, and increased food and health literacy as responses to emerging diet-related health issues.

Conclusions

The Logan City South Sudanese community has navigated a new and complex food environment with positive long-term dietary outcomes; however, the initial decline in health due to poor diet on arrival may have been prevented. SO WHAT?: Early intervention and culturally appropriate health promotion strategies that are co-designed and tailored to the characteristics and strengths of newly settled collectivist communities are needed. These should promote the benefits of healthy traditional food habits, while assisting communities to successfully navigate a new food environment.

SUBMITTER: Lanham A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9290454 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Health promotion in emerging collectivist communities: A study of dietary acculturation in the South Sudanese community in Logan City, Australia.

Lanham Adeline A Lubari Edwin E Gallegos Danielle D Radcliffe Barbara B

Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals 20210505 1

<h4>Issue addressed</h4>Understanding dietary acculturation within collectivist communities is required to develop and tailor appropriate health promotion strategies to prevent diet-related chronic diseases. This research explores the journey of the South Sudanese community living in Logan City, Australia in establishing new norms around food choices and practices over time.<h4>Methods</h4>Three semi-structured group interviews and a final community forum of women (n = 20) from the South Sudanes ...[more]

PMID: 33848390

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Project description:IntroductionEvidence-based and scalable prevention and promotion focused mental health and psychosocial support interventions are needed for conflict-affected populations in humanitarian settings. This study retrospectively assessed whether participation in Self Help Plus (SH+) versus enhanced usual care (EUC) resulted in reduced incidence of probable mental disorder and increased positive mental health and well-being post-intervention among South Sudanese refugee women in Uganda.MethodsThis study used secondary data from treatment-oriented pilot (n=50) and fully-powered cluster randomised controlled trials (cRCT)s (n=694) of SH+ versus EUC. Data from baseline and post-intervention assessments were combined. A composite latent indicator for mental health problems was generated using mental health and well-being measures included in both cRCTs. In order to assess incidence, a binary variable approximating probable mental disorder was created to exclude those with probable mental disorder from the analysis sample and as the primary prevention outcome. The promotive effects of SH+ relative to EUC were examined in the same sample by assessing subjective well-being and psychological flexibility scale scores.ResultsA single factor for mental health problems was identified with all factor loadings >0.30 and acceptable internal consistency (α=0.70). We excluded 161 women who met criteria for probable mental disorder at baseline. Among those with at least moderate psychological distress but without probable mental disorder at baseline and with follow-up data (n=538), the incidence of probable mental disorder at post-intervention was lower among those who participated in SH+ relative to EUC (Risk ratio =0.16, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.53). Participation in SH+ versus EUC was also associated with increased subjective well-being (β=2.62, 95% CI: 1.63 to 3.60) and psychological flexibility (β=4.55, 95% CI: 2.92 to 6.18) at post-intervention assessment.ConclusionsThese results support the use and further testing of SH+ as a selective and indicated prevention and promotion focused psychosocial intervention in humanitarian settings.Trial registration numberISRCTN50148022.

Dataset Information

Health promotion in emerging collectivist communities: A study of dietary acculturation in the South Sudanese community in Logan City, Australia.

Issue addressed

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Health promotion in emerging collectivist communities: A study of dietary acculturation in the South Sudanese community in Logan City, Australia.

Similar Datasets

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