Lived Experience of Refugee WomenResiding in Gaza Strip, PalestinFollowing Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes

Authors

  • Areefa Said Alkasseh Islamic University of Gaza Nusing College
  • Yousef Ibrahim Aljeesh
  • Nik Mohamed Zaki
  • Nasser Ibrahim Abu-El-Noor
  • Soon Leen King

Keywords:

Gestational Diabetes, Refugee Woman’s Experiences, Pregnancy, Gaza Strip

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This qualitative descriptive study was conducted to explore the lived experience of refugee women residing in Gaza Strip following a diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: The study design was informed by grounded theory analysis. Twenty women who were recently diagnosed with GDM were recruited from the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) primary health care clinics in the Gaza Strip. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: Three themes were identified: lack of awareness, coping with the situation, and maintaining sustainability. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Our findings highlight the positive and negative magnitudes experience among GDM women to sustain a new lifestyle, which may inform the UNRWA health care professionals to focus on the barriers that prevent sustaining a healthy life style after the diagnosis of GDM to prevent diabetes tye II in the future.

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Author Biography

  • Areefa Said Alkasseh, Islamic University of Gaza Nusing College
    Nursing College, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine.

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Published

2016-08-15

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How to Cite

Lived Experience of Refugee WomenResiding in Gaza Strip, PalestinFollowing Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes. (2016). Asian Journal of Pharmacy, Nursing and Medical Sciences, 4(4). https://ajouronline.com/index.php/AJPNMS/article/view/3956

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