Erosion in community infrastructure in Central Havana became apparent during Cuba’s economic crisis, as manifested through deterioration of housing, reduced municipal resources and fewer social and cultural activities. In 1995 a risk perception survey was conducted in an extensive household survey within each of the five popular councils of Central Havana. Forty-one items of risk perception, scored on a 5 point Likert scale, were included. A factor analysis showed that 40% of the variability could be attributed to the first factor, living conditions. A major multi-sectoral intervention involving home repair, water supply, street illumination and cultural activities was initiated in 1996 in one popular council, Cayo Hueso. Targeted streets and neighborhoods received varying components of the interventions. During the first quarter of 2001, approximately 1000 adults in each of Cayo Hueso and a control community in Central Havana not receiving intervention, were surveyed using the an enhanced version of the 1996 risk perception instrument. Loglinear models compared perceptions of change in health risks between the two communities at the two points in time, and between neighborhoods targeted and not targeted for specific interventions. As well, loglinear models examined the relationship between changes in perceived need for improvements in housing, municipal infrastructure and socio-cultural activities and change in health risk perception. Of interest was ascertaining whether favorable changes in community perception were found in the neighborhoods of Cayo Hueso where interventions were implemented, as well as whether changes were related to changes in perceptions of health risk.
Learning Objectives: Understand the relationship between perceived community changes and change in health risk perception in a community following interventions.
Keywords: Environmental Health Hazards, Risk Communication
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.