title: Cultural factors related to the maintenance of health behaviours in Algonquin women with a history of gestational diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Though the cultural factors that may contribute to the diabetes epidemic in First Nations are frequently discussed, little is known about the factors that may help prevent it. In this ethnonursing study, we explore the cultural factors that help maintain health behaviours in Algonquin women who had received a diagnosis of gestational diabetes 2 to 10 years before this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were collected in two Algonquin communities through semi-structured interviews with key informants (n = 7) and general informants (n = 8) and through cultural immersion, with detailed observations being recorded into logbooks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cultural factors that are likely to affect the prevention of diabetes are the importance of family and social ties, the possibility of preserving cultural values, the opportunity to learn behaviours through educational resources adapted to needs and culture, the chance of saving money through better diet and access to blood sugar data as a means of control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the long term, these cultural factors could influence health behaviours and thus help prevent type 2 diabetes.
authors: Centre de santé et de services sociaux Les Eskers de l'Abitibi, Amos, Quebec, Canada.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Gaudreau
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Michaud
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D002170:Canada; D003469:Culture; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000208:ethnology*; D004467:Economics; D005195:Family Relations / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008019:Life Style; D009042:Motivation; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D012931:Social Environment