Rubina Barolia
Aga Khan University, Pakistan
Title: Critical challenges of economic and social issues in promoting dietary change and positive food choices for poor people with low income who experience cardiovascular disease in Pakistan
Biography
Biography: Rubina Barolia
Abstract
This qualitative research study was to understand the effects of various factors that inform Pakistani people of low SES in making decisions on food choices after diagnosis with CVD.
Research Questions: (a) What are the factors that inform Pakistani people of low SES in making decisions on food choices after diagnosis with CVD? (b) What are the factors that promote the consumption of healthy diets in people of low SES who have CVD? (c) What factors inhibit people of low SES who have CVD from consuming healthy diets? 24 participants were selected from two cardiac centers in Karachi, Pakistan. Seven major themes are (a) the meaning of food and healthy diet: a social dimension; (b) poverty and a healthy diet: not a matter of choice; simply to satisfy hunger; (c) Health promotion is a political issue: survival is difficult because of political unrest in Karachi (c) hope for recovery and family support: motivation for dietary change; (d) Family support and family relationships affect diet change (e) self-control and self-determination: choosing between taste and health; and (f) culture and family values promote or hinder dietary change. The participants’ data reveals that food choices do not simply mean the consumptions of healthy items; it means communication, socialisation, expressing culture, reflects family and religious values. The challenge lies in identifying and resolving the underlying structures and mechanisms that shape behaviour change.
