The pioneers of Vietnam’s epidemiological transition: an ethnographic study of pregnant women’s experiences of gestational diabetes
Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an abnormal glucose metabolism diagnosed during pregnancy that can have serious adverse consequences for mother and child. GDM is an exceptional health condition, as its management serves not only as treatment but also as prevention, reducing the ris...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Global Health Action |
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2341521 |
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| author | Tine M. Gammeltoft Thi Ai Nguyen Thi Kim Dung Vu Ngoc-Anh Thi Dang Thi Minh Phuong Nguyen Van Tien Nguyen Ib C. Bygbjerg |
| author_facet | Tine M. Gammeltoft Thi Ai Nguyen Thi Kim Dung Vu Ngoc-Anh Thi Dang Thi Minh Phuong Nguyen Van Tien Nguyen Ib C. Bygbjerg |
| author_sort | Tine M. Gammeltoft |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an abnormal glucose metabolism diagnosed during pregnancy that can have serious adverse consequences for mother and child. GDM is an exceptional health condition, as its management serves not only as treatment but also as prevention, reducing the risk of future diabetes in mother and child. Objectives This qualitative study aimed to explore how pregnant women experience and respond to GDM, focusing particularly on the role of the family environment in shaping women’s experiences. Methods The research was carried out in Vietnam’s Thái Bình province in April–May 2023. We conducted in-depth ethnographic interviews with 21 women with GDM, visiting them in their homes. Our theoretical starting point was phenomenological anthropology, and the data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Results At the centre of women’s experiences was the contrast between GDM as a biomedical and a social condition. Whereas GDM was biomedically diagnosed and managed in the healthcare system, it was often deemed insignificant or non-existent by family members. This made GDM a biomedically present but socially absent health condition. This paradox posed challenges to women’s GDM self-care, placing them in pioneering social positions. Conclusions The biomedical presence yet social absence of GDM turned women into pioneers at biomedical, digital, epidemiological, and family frontiers. This article calls for appreciation of pregnant women’s pioneering roles and for health systems action to involve women and families in the development of GDM policies and programmes at a time of sweeping global health changes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-866007b65f704f958bb06ae34778ae51 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1654-9880 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Health Action |
| spelling | doaj-art-866007b65f704f958bb06ae34778ae512025-02-05T12:46:13ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-98802024-12-0117110.1080/16549716.2024.23415212341521The pioneers of Vietnam’s epidemiological transition: an ethnographic study of pregnant women’s experiences of gestational diabetesTine M. Gammeltoft0Thi Ai Nguyen1Thi Kim Dung Vu2Ngoc-Anh Thi Dang3Thi Minh Phuong Nguyen4Van Tien Nguyen5Ib C. Bygbjerg6University of CopenhagenThai Binh University of Medicine and PharmacyThai Binh University of Medicine and PharmacyThai Binh University of Medicine and PharmacyThai Binh University of Medicine and PharmacyThai Binh University of Medicine and PharmacyUniversity of CopenhagenBackground Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an abnormal glucose metabolism diagnosed during pregnancy that can have serious adverse consequences for mother and child. GDM is an exceptional health condition, as its management serves not only as treatment but also as prevention, reducing the risk of future diabetes in mother and child. Objectives This qualitative study aimed to explore how pregnant women experience and respond to GDM, focusing particularly on the role of the family environment in shaping women’s experiences. Methods The research was carried out in Vietnam’s Thái Bình province in April–May 2023. We conducted in-depth ethnographic interviews with 21 women with GDM, visiting them in their homes. Our theoretical starting point was phenomenological anthropology, and the data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Results At the centre of women’s experiences was the contrast between GDM as a biomedical and a social condition. Whereas GDM was biomedically diagnosed and managed in the healthcare system, it was often deemed insignificant or non-existent by family members. This made GDM a biomedically present but socially absent health condition. This paradox posed challenges to women’s GDM self-care, placing them in pioneering social positions. Conclusions The biomedical presence yet social absence of GDM turned women into pioneers at biomedical, digital, epidemiological, and family frontiers. This article calls for appreciation of pregnant women’s pioneering roles and for health systems action to involve women and families in the development of GDM policies and programmes at a time of sweeping global health changes.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2341521digital healthfamily environmenthealth servicesphenomenological anthropologypregnancyself-care |
| spellingShingle | Tine M. Gammeltoft Thi Ai Nguyen Thi Kim Dung Vu Ngoc-Anh Thi Dang Thi Minh Phuong Nguyen Van Tien Nguyen Ib C. Bygbjerg The pioneers of Vietnam’s epidemiological transition: an ethnographic study of pregnant women’s experiences of gestational diabetes Global Health Action digital health family environment health services phenomenological anthropology pregnancy self-care |
| title | The pioneers of Vietnam’s epidemiological transition: an ethnographic study of pregnant women’s experiences of gestational diabetes |
| title_full | The pioneers of Vietnam’s epidemiological transition: an ethnographic study of pregnant women’s experiences of gestational diabetes |
| title_fullStr | The pioneers of Vietnam’s epidemiological transition: an ethnographic study of pregnant women’s experiences of gestational diabetes |
| title_full_unstemmed | The pioneers of Vietnam’s epidemiological transition: an ethnographic study of pregnant women’s experiences of gestational diabetes |
| title_short | The pioneers of Vietnam’s epidemiological transition: an ethnographic study of pregnant women’s experiences of gestational diabetes |
| title_sort | pioneers of vietnam s epidemiological transition an ethnographic study of pregnant women s experiences of gestational diabetes |
| topic | digital health family environment health services phenomenological anthropology pregnancy self-care |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2341521 |
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