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Dementia literacy of racially minoritized people in a Chinese society: a qualitative study among South Asian migrants in Hong Kong.
- Source :
- Ethnicity & Health; Jul2023, Vol. 28 Issue 5, p757-780, 24p, 1 Diagram, 1 Chart
- Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Research on dementia literacy in Chinese societies is still emerging, and this is especially the case among racially minoritized groups. The present study explored the knowledge, causal beliefs, and help-seeking behaviors of South Asian migrants in Hong Kong about dementia. It also investigated existing community barriers related to dementia knowledge and help-seeking. We conducted a qualitative study from a purposive sample of 38 older people and family caregivers from India, Pakistan, and Nepal who lived in Hong Kong. Focus groups and individual in-depth interviews were used to gather information, while thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. Five main themes were identified: normalization with stigmatization of dementia; spiritual and psychosocial attributions of dementia; familial responsibility despite potential caregiving burden; uncertainties versus openness to professional care; and barriers and opportunities in dementia literacy. Ethnic minorities recognized dementia as a disease of normal aging or a mental disorder. They also perceived spiritual and psychosocial factors as their main causes. While participants recognized the potential burden of dementia caregiving, families were their first point of help-seeking, as many of them expressed contrasting feelings of confidence or doubt toward professional services. Utilization of health education strategies, together with collaboration with community leaders, could address the barriers to dementia literacy. This is the first study to explore how ethnic minorities in Asia perceive dementia and its related help-seeking behaviors in their communities. South Asian migrants in Hong Kong have a limited understanding of dementia and may experience delays in obtaining relevant community services. While culture influenced their knowledge, health education may address their misperceptions and help-seeking behaviors toward dementia. Culture- and language-specific programs could also improve dementia knowledge and health service access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- DEMENTIA
IMMIGRANTS
ATTITUDES toward mental illness
MINORITIES
HEALTH services accessibility
FOCUS groups
SPIRITUALITY
CONFIDENCE
MEDICINE information services
RESEARCH methodology
HELP-seeking behavior
COMMUNITIES
SOUTH Asians
INTERVIEWING
SOCIAL stigma
BURDEN of care
UNCERTAINTY
MEDICAL care
FAMILIES
HEALTH literacy
QUALITATIVE research
RESPONSIBILITY
COMPARATIVE studies
HEALTH information services
HEALTH attitudes
PSYCHOSOCIAL factors
PSYCHOLOGY of caregivers
AGING
SOUND recordings
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
RESEARCH funding
ETHNIC groups
JUDGMENT sampling
THEMATIC analysis
DATA analysis software
INFORMATION-seeking behavior
PSYCHOLOGY
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 13557858
- Volume :
- 28
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Ethnicity & Health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 164312193
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2022.2139818