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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/11375/22145
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DC FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributor.advisorMoffat, Tina-
dc.contributor.authorBurns, Rebecca-
dc.date.accessioned2017-10-12T11:48:29Z-
dc.date.available2017-10-12T11:48:29Z-
dc.date.issued2017-11-
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11375/22145-
dc.description.abstractThe present study investigates the self-care and health maintenance strategies undertaken by individuals from Halton Region, Ontario living with type 2 diabetes and receiving assistance from food acquisition services such as community food re-distribution centres and food banks. This qualitative research project pulls narrative and thematic interview data from 18 semi-structured one-on-one interviews analyzed with syndemic theory and social determinants of health frameworks to demonstrate how clustering non-communicable diseases and social conditions disproportionately affect those in the lowest income category, and interact with each other to exacerbate the negative health effects of each condition alone. The contributions of this study are theoretical and applied. Theoretical contributions augment existing evidence for the study of non-communicable diseases using a syndemic model. The study participants demonstrated syndemic clustering of five conditions: type 2 diabetes, food insecurity, low income, poor mental health, and activity limitation. Further, this study suggests an applied element to the syndemic model through an approach to health and diabetes care that incorporates the whole person as opposed to a single disease as a unit of care. As suggested through the findings of research participant testimony, a diabetes health care centre, in addition to traditional diabetes care, would ideally screen and offer care for the other common clustered conditions listed in the syndemic elements above. Thus, the centre would provide nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and social supports to patients. As well, it is recommended that future research contributes to prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases through social, political, and economic in form of increasing government and healthcare supports for people living with low-income and food insecurity.en_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.subjectfood insecurityen_US
dc.subjecttype 2 diabetesen_US
dc.subjectsyndemicsen_US
dc.subjectsyndemic theoryen_US
dc.subjectsocial determinants of healthen_US
dc.title"If they fund people with good food, maybe they don't end up on the medical end of things...": Food Insecurity and Type 2 Diabetes among People Receiving Food Assistance in Halton Region, Ontarioen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.contributor.departmentAnthropologyen_US
dc.description.degreetypeThesisen_US
dc.description.degreeMaster of Arts (MA)en_US
dc.description.layabstractThis study looks at how individuals from Halton Region, Ontario maintain their health while living with type 2 diabetes and reduced access to healthy, fresh food. The project uses interview data from 18 one-on-one interviews to demonstrate how people with low income suffer from poorer overall health. Specifically, five conditions affected the study participants’ health: type 2 diabetes, reduced access to healthy food, low income, poor mental health, and reduced financial or physical access to exercise or activities of daily living (activity limitation). To combat these conditions, this study suggests an approach to health and diabetes care that looks at the whole person. Evidence and participant suggestions indicate a diabetes health care centre that screens and offers care for other common conditions that occur such as the elements listed above, and also provides nutrition care, physical activity, and social support to patients.en_US
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