Cultural competence in health: Understanding the food choices of older Ukrainian Australians

Increased life expectancy in Australia and other developed countries highlights the need for health promotion focused on chronic disease prevention and improvements in quality of life (Nay, Garratt, & Fetherstonhaugh, 2014). Although there are many factors that may predispose to chronic diseases, including genetic, social, environmental, and nancial factors, preventive advice has frequently focused on modifying personal lifestyle (Willcox, 2014), on the grounds that this approach is both effective and cost-effective (Ananthapavan, Sacks, Moodie, & Carter, 2014; Carter et al., 2009). Despite recent advances in health promotion and disease prevention in Australia, some disadvantaged groups, including immigrant populations, still experience a higher than average burden of chronic disease, disability and premature mortality (AIHW, 2014). Furthermore, a recently published nding from the analysis of the longitudinal Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey data indicated that after twenty years of residing in Australia, immigrants who were of good health upon arrival reported as many chronic diseases as the Australia-born population (Jatrana, Pasupuleti, & Richardson, 2014).