801-P: Health Beliefs and Knowledge about Gestational Diabetes (GDM) in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Female Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) and Their Mothers: Preliminary Findings from the Stopping GDM Trial

• Published in: Diabetes (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 69; no. Supplement_1
• Main Authors: SEREIKA, SUSAN M., MOORE, KELLY R., STOTZ, SARAH A., FISCHL, ANDREA F., CHALMERS, LAURA, GARROW, HEATHER, GONZALES, KELLY L., O’BANION, NANCY, CHARRON-PROCHOWNIK, DENISE
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York American Diabetes Association 01-06-2020
• Subjects: Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Gestational diabetes; Knowledge; Mothers; Pediatrics; Reproductive health; Teenagers; Young adults
• ISSN: 0012-1797; 1939-327X
• DOI: 10.2337/db20-801-P

Introduction: Little research has focused on enhancing knowledge and health beliefs in female AYA at risk for GDM and their mothers, particularly in the AI/AN population. We examined the change in knowledge and health beliefs about GDM at the baseline visit between the intervention (n=60) and control (n=53) arms of the Stopping GDM Trial among AI/AN female AYA at risk for GDM (i.e., daughters) and their mothers.
Methods: Grounded in the Expanded Health Belief Model and using a randomized controlled trial design, this investigation focused on the efficacy of a video viewed at the baseline visit of a culturally tailored online program to enhance knowledge and health beliefs to decrease GDM risk in 113 AI/AN female AYA (74% AI; on average 16.9±3.0 years old; 45% in grades 9-12) and their mother or an adult female (e.g., grandmother) (80% mother; 82% AI; on average 44.7±9.4 years old; 44% college educated). All completed established measures of knowledge and health beliefs (benefits, barriers, severity, susceptibility) before and after viewing the video. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear mixed modeling.
Results: At the baseline visit daughters in the intervention group had greater mean increase in overall reproductive health and GDM knowledge (p=.010), and more specifically family planning knowledge (p=.003), compared to the control group. Daughters on average increased both diabetes prevention comprehensive (p=.048) and GDM (p<.001) knowledge. Mothers showed mean increases in all knowledge scores (p<.05). Regarding health beliefs, both daughters and mothers on average increased perceived susceptibility scores and decreased perceived barriers scores (p<.05).
Conclusions: These initial results support the use of culturally tailored behavioral interventions to improve knowledge and health beliefs to reduce GDM risk in AI/AN female AYA.