Evaluating the impact of the “Cultural Meal Guide for Vietnamese Gestational Diabetic Women".

Project Coordinator

Anh Tran

Chief Investigators

Associate Investigators

Other Team Members

Elizabeth Comino, Sarah Dennis

Rationale

Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disorder affecting 7.5% of the Australian adult population; glucose intolerance is a precursor to diabetes mellitus and affects a further 16% of the adult Australian population (Zimmet et al, 2000).

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a specific form of diabetes that occurs in women during pregnancy and usually resolves after delivery. Onset of GDM tends to occur around weeks 24 to 28 of gestation. During pregnancy the placenta produces hormones, which interfere with the actions of the mother’s insulin and blood glucose levels rise as a result. GDM affects 4-6% of all pregnancies in Australia increasing to 14% or more in some ethnic groups (Marney, B. 2000). The prevalence of GDM is higher amongst women from the Indian sub-continent, Africa, Vietnam, the Mediterranean and Egypt (SWSAHS 1999). According to the data collected by the Fairfield Hospital Diabetes Clinic in 1999/2000, 199 were diagnosed with GDM of these 34% (77/199) were Vietnamese women.

Diet has an important role to play in maintaining good health. The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing estimates that poor diet contributes to 60% of all deaths in Australia including coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, some forms of cancer and diabetes. Vietnamese Australians tends to experience a lower rate of diet related chronic disease because they tend to eat a healthier diet than other Australians. However, there is some evidence that upon migration to Australia there are changes to their diet and that these changes may be detrimental to their health (DoCS & Health 1988).

Diet is an essential component of the management of GDM and all women presenting with GDM are given appropriate dietary advice from a dietician. It was observed at Fairfield Hospital in Sydney that Vietnamese women with GDM had some difficulty understanding the advice given to them about carbohydrate controlled diet and serving sizes. Some of their difficulties arose because of differences in the way in which meals are served in Vietnamese households compared to other Australians. Vietnamese meals tend to be served in bowls and plates on the table for the whole family to consume whereas Australian families tend to serve food on individual plates. As a result of this, Vietnamese women may not fully understand the concept of a portion size or serving of a particular food.

Aims

In order to help Vietnamese women understand their GDM and the way in which diet is used to control the condition a “Cultural Meal Guide for Vietnamese Gestational Diabetic Women” booklet was developed in consultation with women and their families who attended the antenatal clinic. These booklets are provided to all women with GDM from a Vietnamese background on presentation at the Diabetic Clinic at Fairfield Hospital. This project was designed to assess the impact of these booklets on the GDM knowledge and eating habits of Vietnamese women with GDM.

Design and Method

Questionnaire

Key Publications

Project report, no publications