title: Stressors influencing Middle Eastern women's perceptions of the risk of cardiovascular disease: a focus group study.
abstract: To better understand Australia-dwelling Middle Eastern women's lack of service utilization in cardiovascular health, we undertook a study to investigate their understandings and meanings of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors. Eight focus groups were conducted in community settings with Turkish, Persian, and Arab women. We found that the women understated their risk of CVD, faced many barriers in reducing their risks, and perceived stress as the most significant contributor to CVD. Women described their stress as primarily emanating from issues surrounding migration and acculturation. Implications for development and delivery of tailored health interventions for Middle Eastern women are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gholizadeh
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Digiacomo
authors.forename: Yenna
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Salamonson
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008877:Middle East / Q000208:ethnology; D010465:Perception; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology*; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult