Perception and management of diabetes in Somali children and COVID-19
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring family experiences, beliefs, and perspectives on service provision for Somali children and their families living with type I diabetes in Bristol
IRAS ID
292897
Contact name
Aidan Searle
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 0 days
Research summary
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a childhood chronic autoimmune condition characterised by the loss of insulin-producing β-cells in the pancreas. This results in a loss of control of blood glucose levels – if left poorly controlled for long periods, it can result coma and death. Approximately 400,000 people are living with type 1 diabetes in the UK, of which 29,000 are children. Type 1 diabetes requires daily, intensive management – therefore, caring for children with this condition can be extremely challenging.
There is limited research focused on type 1 diabetes within the Somali population, however the majority of literature shows that Somali children achieve poorer health outcomes when compared to other ethnic groups – there is evidence showing that Somali patients are less likely to achieve adequate glycaemic control when compared to African-American, white Finnish and white British children.
Bristol is home to one of the largest populations of Somalis in the United Kingdom. There are no exact data relating to the number of Somalis living in the United Kingdom, however, in 2011 the Bristol council approximated that 10,000 Somalis were living in the city from a population of 534,000 people. This study will focus on Somali patients who attend the paediatric diabetes clinic at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
This qualitative research project will involve in-depth interviews with Somali children and their parents to explore their experiences and perceptions of living with type 1 diabetes including their experiences during the Coronavirus-SARS 2 epidemic when service delivery altered considerably. It aims to identify areas where care can be tailored and improved for Somali families, with the aim of improving health outcomes. Furthermore, it will allow clinical practitioners to attain a better understanding of their patients and families, allowing them to be more culturally sensitive when aiding Somali families in caring for children with type 1 diabetes.REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
21/NI/0021
Date of REC Opinion
16 Mar 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion