The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #43206

Sheila Marie Allen, RN, CSPI¹, H. Virginia McCoy, PhD², and Janvier Gasana, MD, MpH, PhD¹. (1) Department of Public Health, Florida International University, 3000 N.E. 151 Street, North Miami, FL 33181, (2) College of Health, Department of Public Health, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151 Street, North Miami, FL 33181, (305)-919-5513, smedi003@fiu.edu

Purpose: This report focuses on the variation in responses among the target populations in their request for obtaining information and educational material on health related issues

Methods: Seven focus groups where conducted among male and female Hispanics, African-Americans, Haitians and homosexual men of low to moderate income. The Hispanic group was conducted in Spanish and the Haitian group in Creole.

Results: Each group expressed their frustration in obtaining health related information, expressing a desire for information in various ways

Africa-Americans felt excluded, believing that education material “was being put out” but not so as to impact their ethnic group. They expressed a desire for the church and employers to assume an active role.

Hispanics believed information was not available to them but had no way to educate themselves on health issues. They desired printed material in their native language and commercial style information on the radio.

Haitians reported obtaining much of their health information from the television. They desired information in their native language, not in “ancient-old Creole”.

Homosexual men express a concern of “information overload” or a lack of information available on health related topics; preferring information where they would be “standing around”.

Conclusions: It is evident more information is necessary among all target populations of this study. Educational material providing such information should be short, concise and easy to read requiring little time to read due to the demands of a busy lifestyle, for each targeted ethnic group.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the frustrations of target population in obtaining health care information.
• Recognize the variations among target populations in their request for educational material on health related issues.

Keywords: Ethnic Minorities, Community Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.