Reclaiming Healthy Traditions: Findings from an African-American Case Study on Spirituality and Type 2 Diabetes in Rural Arkansas

BACKGROUND: Though underreported, type 2 diabetes (T2D) is ranked the number four health priority in Arkansas (AR). Spirituality is a central aspect of life in the state's African American (AA) community. This case study presents community-based qualitative research conducted among AAs in rural AR. The goal was to: 1. Explore the role of spirituality in the participants' daily lives and 2. Identify possible linkages between T2D self-management and healthy mind, body and soul initiatives within the participants' community. METHODS: Qualitative data was collected from open-ended interviews with individuals who had a T2D diagnosis. These interviews focused on the roles of culture, self-care practices, social network and social support, spirituality, racism and discrimination, family health history, and health insurance status in T2D self-management. This study applied a grounded theory approach to its systematic, qualitative analysis of interview transcripts and development of themes and patterns. FINDINGS: Community-based spiritual messages and rituals could encourage the participants' T2D health care seeking behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: This case study presents research findings and discusses: 1) perceptions of diabetes and its prevention and care within this rural AR community; 2) the influences of spiritual factors in their socio-historical contexts upon community norms and health care seeking behaviors; and 3) the promotion of better T2D prevention, management and treatment through better understanding of this community's cultural strengths in its own collectivist contexts.