Social Determinants of Health and Health Care Delivery: African American Women's T2DM Self-Management

African American (AA) women have high prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and complications. No studies have been conducted about how social determinants of health and health care delivery affect their T2DM self-management. The purpose was to describe how social determinants of health and healthcare delivery may influence AA women's T2DM self-management using qualitative descriptive methodology (N = 10). Ten participants were interviewed. Participants' geographical location, education, level of income, health literacy, and systemic racism, that is, healthcare delivery services, for example, inadequate healthcare services, providers' assumptions about the patient's knowledge of diabetes, providers' attitudes toward patients, and stigma related to diabetes as a disease were identified. Understanding the role of social determinants of health and the health care delivery system in influencing T2DM self-management is a powerful tool for providers and practitioners for improving practice and health care policies to decrease health disparities and improve health outcomes among AA women with T2DM.

Automated summary

This study explored how social determinants of health and healthcare delivery may influence African American women's Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) self-management using qualitative descriptive methodology. Factors such as geographical location, education, level of income, health literacy, and systemic racism in healthcare delivery services were identified to play a role in influencing T2DM self-management. Understanding these factors is crucial for providers and practitioners to improve practice and health care policies for reducing health disparities and improving health outcomes among African American women with T2DM.