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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Velia Leybas and Dominique Calza. Arizona, 1501 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ 85724, 520.874.4931, vleybas@email.arizona.edu

Low educational attainment and low socioeconomic status are associated with poor health outcomes. Our study aim was to address low educational achievement through a three-day pilot intervention on a university campus referred to as the Latina Institute. Twenty, Hispanic girls completed the baseline cross-sectional survey. Respondents were from two, rural Arizona communities within three hours of the US/Mexico border. Their mean age was 11.8 + .56 years. Sixty-eight percent of girls self identified as Mexican American while 9% identified as Mexican Nationals or South American and, 4% were American Indian, mixed race or did not know. The majority of girls, 91%, were US born. In terms of language, girls listened to and spoke more English than Spanish (84 vs. 55). Academically, respondents reported high grades of As(68%) or Bs(81%). Sadly, 23% reported thinking about quitting school. Health grades were also high with 95% of the respondents rating their health as good or better. Even risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, and fighting were extremely low. With regards to body image, 59% described their weight as just right or slightly underweight while 41% reported being slightly or very overweight. These results suggest girls perceive they are in good academic standing and good health. Interestingly the rates of high school graduation remain at a disturbing low. The presentation will explore the implications of the findings and describe the intervention and lessons learned.

Learning Objectives: