1. Assessing community readiness for overweight and obesity prevention among Ghanaian immigrants living in Greater Manchester, England
- Author
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Hibbah Araba Osei-Kwasi, Peter Jackson, Robert Akparibo, Michelle Holdsworth, Mary Nicolaou, Ama De Graft Aikins, Paula Griffiths, University of Sheffield [Sheffield], Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) (UMR MoISA), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier (CIHEAM-IAMM), Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes (CIHEAM)-Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes (CIHEAM)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Institut Agro Montpellier, Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro), Amsterdam School of Public Health [the Netherlands], University College of London [London] (UCL), Loughborough University, This work was supported by the AXA Research Fund, Academic Medical Center - Academisch Medisch Centrum [Amsterdam] (AMC), University of Amsterdam [Amsterdam] (UvA), Goldsmiths, University of London (Goldsmiths College), University of London [London], This paper is an output of Dr. Hibbah Araba Osei-Kwasi’s Research Fellowship, funded by AXA Research Fund., Public and occupational health, APH - Health Behaviors & Chronic Diseases, and APH - Methodology
- Subjects
CRM ,Community readiness ,Nutrition and Dietetics ,Ghanaians ,Immigrants ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,[SDV.SPEE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Santé publique et épidémiologie ,UK ,[SDV.AEN]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Food and Nutrition ,Overweight/obesity - Abstract
Aim This study assesses community readiness to prevent overweight/obesity among Ghanaian immigrants in Greater Manchester, England. Subject and method The Community Readiness Model (CRM) was applied using a semi-structured interview tool with 13 key informants (religious and other key community members) addressing five readiness dimensions. A maximum of 9 points per dimension (from 1 = no awareness to 9 = high level of community ownership), was assigned, alongside qualitative textual thematic analysis. Results The mean readiness score indicated that the study population was in the “vague awareness stage” (3.08 ± 0.98). The highest score was observed for community knowledge of the issue (4.42 ± 0.99) which was in the pre-planning phase, followed by community climate (vague awareness; 3.58 ± 0.62). The lowest scores were seen for resources (denial/resistance; 2.70 ± 0.61) and knowledge of efforts (no awareness; 1.53 ± 0.44). Findings identified structural barriers, including poor living conditions as a result of poorly paid menial jobs and high workload, contributing to the adoption of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours. Socio-cultural factors such as fatalism, hereditary factors, and social status were associated with acceptance of overweight. Conclusion Despite recognising overweight/obesity as an important health issue in these communities, especially among women, it is not seen as a priority for targeting change. To help these communities to become more ready for interventions that tackle overweight/obesity, the focus should initially be to address the structural barriers identified, including reducing poverty, alongside designing interventions that work with these structural barriers, and thereafter focus on the socio-cultural factors.
- Published
- 2022