Critique In Black Families’ Perception Of Barriers To The Practice Of A Healthy Lifestyle

Perception of Barriers

Perceptions and beliefs of African Caribbean men and women

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This particular study have concentrated on some tangible indicators of the practice of the healthy lifestyles, still there are a drought of the research that explore the inter relationship between the observe of some healthy lifestyles and the wide spreading some living circumstances of Black and some other visible minority communities of the western societies. In this regard, this particular article represents a thorough study of the belief along with the perceptions of the African Caribbean men as well as women regarding the barriers – to healthy lifestyle. Apart from that, the article has shed focus on some special areas like social exclusion, racism as well as ethnic identity. In order to carry on the entire task, 18 participants of North England have been considered, as they have taken part in the study (Capstick et al. 2009).

To have an in depth knowledge, the interview has been conducted in their homes.  During the conduction of the interview, it has been found that the participants believe that the principles of leading a healthy lifestyle was not highly relevant to their own – experience. The reason is that they have significantly failed to take into account their personal experience of racism along with social exclusion, moral values, beliefs and ethnic identify. During the conduction of the study, it has been found that the participants argued that – emphasizing on the prevention of illness along with the perceived Eurocentric approaches, the main belief of a healthy lifestyle was a significant part of the social exclusion paradigm largely knowledgeable by their community (Clark and Drinkwater 2007).

In support of the statement explained in the article, Craig and Shelton (2008) has illustrated in his work that many reports have explained the fact that the African Caribbean population largely suffer from -several life style related illness like obesity, diabetes, hypertension as well as stokes in – comparison to their white counterparts. Apart from that, it can be found that some evidences strongly suggest that this specified black community have fewer options towards participation of their task along with the social and domestic tasks. Some statistics have stated that the members of the black community are economically less placed that the white people of the society. Most interestingly, some significant health inequalities can be observed as well between these two discussed groups. In spite of the existing huge gap between the white and the black group of the community, some determinants have taken care of to control like social class, poverty, social discrimination and some more (Department of Health (DoH) 2010).

Barriers to practicing a healthy lifestyle

The local health authority ethics community approved the survey before conduction and this study is based on the health as well as the well-being of African Caribbean community in the north of England. The participants were recruited with the help of the purposive sampling technique through community organizations, some voluntary centers and Black Church Organizations that give special importance to the Black along with some other minority communities in the society. The group is consisted of 11 women and 7 men, who are aged between 22 years to 60 years. Fetterman (2007) has suggested that before starting of the study, all these 18 participants were provided a detailed written as well as oral explanation of the study and they were ensured that the privacy would be maintained during as well as after the interview in contrast to the viewpoint stated in the article. Hammersley and Atkinson (2007) have critically elaborated in his work that this particular work has shaded focus on the perception of the participants on the issue that how racism and the social segregation and the lack in the recognition of the ethnic identity constrained their choices from participating a healthy lifestyle in the UK. Therefore, it can be said that it would be impossible for the researcher to carry on the entire research work if they did not give their access to a great deal of the detailed data.

Heyl (2007) has stated in support of the article that the description of the participants largely falls under the category of three broad sections and these are patterns of the tangible behavior, proper accessibility to the public and the social services as well along with social order and the control mechanisms. Hylton (2010) has argued that the participants opined that maintaining a proper and healthy lifestyle must be about countering several socio-economic disadvantages like racism, discrimination  along with the provision of appropriate education and at the same time it has been taken into consideration the values as well as the beliefs of each participants. Heyl (2007) has found that the participants believe that there are some important factors that contribute largely towards a healthy life style are no cigarette smoking, no drugs as well as any drugs in restraint.

In comparison to the viewpoint stated in the article, Heyl (2007) has opined that healthy diet, exercise, healthy sexual practices, proper schooling, healthy neighbourhood- and a strong state of the comfort that takes into account enough hours to sleep and take rest and some more. King et al. (2009) have critically suggested that that the black people believe some social factors are required to take care of properly in order to lead a healthy life. Anti-discriminatory practices, social equality, healthy diet taking into consideration the traditional African Caribbean diet, positive media images are highly important that will focus on the supporting the African Caribbean. Moreover, it has been found that Ledwith and Springett (2010) have suggested that religious beliefs are required to keep in mind that will focus on the values and the beliefs of the African Caribbean community. It is important for the children and the young people as well, there is a requirement of the African Centric Education curriculum comprehensive of the African Caribbean history and life sciences.

Personal experiences of racism and social exclusion

In response to the above-mentioned beliefs, it has been found that the participants strongly believe that maintain the proper healthy life style are the key factors to have a public and social service. Ochieng (2010) has critically said that there must be appropriate management along with the proper delivery of the services to benefit individual health. They all have argued that leading a healthy life style simply means having equal access towards employment, proper and relevant education, health care, good housing. Moreover, it is important to deliver these services with equality and fairness. Williams (2010) has argued in his work that the Black people of the society are highly concerned – about fair and equal treatment at the time of looking for a job or consulting with the doctor. It has been found that the participants clearly struggled with many priorities in their lives that are believed to be more relevant and must be taken into consideration as an integral part of the life style strategy. The participants in the discussed article have said that when the ruling party makes some advices about the healthy life style, they fell highly oppressed and the leaders do not care that about the well-being of the participants, especially the Black people.

Denscombe (2003) has explained in his work that the Black people are highly concerned about the lack of inclusion of the African Caribbean foods as one of the important parts of the healthy diet. They have found that such type of omission was highly interpreted as a strong attempt to maintain the social order along with the control over the considered healthy diet. Moreover, Dundas et al. (2001) have significantly said that when the participants were asked about the importance of the unity, they all have talked about their internal division that arise from observance to the identity of the Caribbean island. After this part, it is highly important to discuss about the barriers towards practicing a healthy life style for the Black people of the specified area. Johnson et al. (2000) have found that there are two important areas are considered as the barriers of having a healthy lifestyle and these are the experience of racism along with the social exclusion and the disadvantages of the socio-economic condition.  The second point is the lack of recognition of the ethnic identity, values as well as the beliefs of the participants in the mentioned text. 

Cultural values and beliefs

Karlsen and Nazroo (2002) has elaborated clearly that the experiences of the racism along with the social segregation is considered as the major barrier to the Black people for maintain a healthy life style. The participants have opined that the racism is emphasized at almost all aspects of life and they have considered racism as the most energetic factor in this regard. The participants have found that racism was considered to have a direct effect of the black peoples’ socio-economic condition along with the health status and overall well-being of them. They all have found that the racism can effectively limit the level of the progress (Karlsen and Nazroo 2002).

The participants have found that racism has resulted in – high – mortality rates among the Black people with the poor longevity rates. These all have lead towards a high incidence of the psychopathological illness and disadvantages of the individual’s identity to have a proper and healthy lifestyle. From the article, the situation is adverse in case of the Caribbean women as compared to the Caribbean men. The Caribbean women have little access to any kind of jobs rather than men and this has affected the satiation adversely. The condition among the boys in the mentioned society is vulnerable, as the social segregation have showed the seed of frustration, restlessness and anger and this is unfortunately an ever growing cycle (Ochieng 2010).

The women of the African Caribbean society are highly politicized and are called for a better understanding of the several – challenges in the community. The women in the society are constantly being – affected by racism and discrimination and this has gradually extended towards socio-economic disadvantages and the gradual family breakdowns. Both the female and the male participants have described that racism largely affect their life and they face – dissemination in the work place that damage them mentally (Ledwith and Springett 2010).

The second most dangerous thing that the Black people of the community face is that a significant number existing principle of the community are highly ignored as well as marginalized the ethical identity of the African Caribbean and their values and beliefs as well. Hylton (2010) has critically argued that there is a general perception among the participants is that the healthy eating means giving up a significant part of their ethnic identity. Therefore, it has been found that in the entire study, some barriers have been identified – that affects the healthy life style and these might be microcosm of the wider challenges that most of the people in the community face largely. However, it can be said that a further investigate study is required to analyze the situation more critically among large number of participants (Hammersley and Atkinson 2007).

References

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Clark, K. and Drinkwater, S., 2007. Ethnic minorities in the labour market: dynamics and diversity. London: The Policy Press.

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Denscombe, M., 2003. The good research guide for small scale social research projects. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Department of Health (DoH), 2010. Healthy lives: our strategy for public health in England. London: HMSO.

Dundas, R., et al., 2001. Ethnic differences in behavioural risk factors for stroke: implications

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Hylton, C., 2010. Creating and sustaining African self-identity in the Western Diaspora. In: B.M.N. Ochieng, and C.L.A. Hylton, eds. Black families in Britain as the site of struggle. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 258–282.

Johnson, R.D.M., et al., 2000. Black and minority ethnic groups in England: the second health and lifestyle survey. London: HEA.

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Ochieng, B.M.N., 2010. ‘‘You know what I mean’’: the ethical and methodological dilemmas and challenges for Black researchers interviewing Black families. Qualitative Health Research, 20 (12), 1725–1735.

Williams, J., 2010. Black UK families and the labour market: an historical review of the continuing difficulties of establishing a firm economic base. In: B.M.N. Ochieng, and C.L.A. Hylton, eds. Black families in Britain as the site of struggle. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 122–142.