Factors Influencing the Chronic Disease Management Behaviors of Bangladeshi Muslim Women in an Inner-City Minority Neighborhood

Paterson, NJ is estimated to be home to the second largest Bangladeshi Muslim population in the northeast region, after New York City. Evidence suggests that this group is especially vulnerable to overweight, obesity, and related chronic diseases. Researchers have found that cultural, religious, and language barriers often make it difficult, especially for women, to obtain adequate health care. These factors, confounded with the limited healthcare directed towards the socioeconomically lower class and minority cultures, underscore the importance of developing targeted programs serving this community. Also, to date, there have been limited efforts to understand how the female members of this group define their health needs in the context of their gender, ethnicity, religion, family, and living environment, and how these perceptions relate to seeking and receiving appropriate care. Using the socio-ecological model as a guiding framework, this study sought to identify the contextual factors influencing the health behaviors of a group of Bangladeshi Muslim female residents of Paterson, NJ. Data was collected using focus groups (N=44), and a brief demographic questionnaire. Content analysis revealed that a repertoire of individual (knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs, locus of control, and self efficacy), interpersonal (social, cultural and religious norms, and social support), and environmental (access to programs in their neighborhood) factors may impact their daily food choices and physical activity behaviors. The findings suggest that health promotion programs that are culturally sensitive and targeted to strengthen and facilitate existing support networks are needed to improve health outcomes among these women, and ultimately their families.