What I'm Doing

I am conducting a research project that, in short, will develop an understanding of the attitudes, knowledge, perceptions, and practices surrounding diabetes from the perspective of both the healthcare provider and patient/community member.  I will be making observations, conducting interviews and surveys, and holding focus groups to develop this understanding.  This project is important because one must understand diabetes within the cultural context of rural Ecuador in order to reduce the negative health effects that are the result of diabetes.  The ultimate goals of the findings of this project are to better understand how to assess the prevalence of diabetes in this community, as well as assess the efficacy of implementing a public health program/intervention--within the cultural understanding of diabetes--directed at reducing the prevalence of diabetes.  Lastly, I hope my final report will help educate Western healthcare providers about the cultural background of diabetic patients in this area, who may not believe in or use Western medicine to treat their diabetes.