The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #44188

Ahlam Mohammed, BA, 8/02¹, Linda Marie Morales, MA, and Kendra Brandstein, MPH, MSW³. (1) New Americans Health Advocacy Project, Project Concern International, 5532 El Cajon Blvd., Suite 10, San Diego, CA 92115, 619 583-4099, kemiahlam@hotmail.com, (2) The California Program, Project Concern International, 148 East 30th Street, Suite Up-South, National City, CA 91950

East African communities of San Diego are affected by: cultural norms that minimize the importance of preventive care, new lifestyle habits that mean less exercise and greater in-take of non-nutritious foods, religious values that prohibit male doctors from touching community members without the presence of a male relative, and linguistic barriers impeding communication. These barriers distort an already strained relationship between some providers and East Africans.

Project Concern International developed a Cultural Competency Curriculum including protocols for the recruitment of trainers, the development of materials, and the development of the training program. A participatory approach emphasized the value of cultural diversity and the potential richness contributed by involving the health advocates in the materials development process. Advocates were trained in adult learning and cultural sensitivities techniques; adaptation of the learning model; researching priority health areas; determining communication and learning goals; defining key messages; surveying the audience for media preferences; pretesting and revising messages and illustrations; finalizing, distributing, and evaluating the impact of the materials. Advocates developed a Breast Cancer brochure and Diabetes awareness “story cards”; an impact evaluation is planned for one-year post distribution.

Providing key information using the cultural competency model positively impacts all levels of health workers and their communities. Respecting the needs of the individual and his/her culture and building trusting relationships creates a maximum learning environment for health education. In addition, involving health advocates in a systematic approach to designing culturally appropriate health materials empowers them by developing skills that they can apply in future activities.

Learning Objectives:

• 1) Explain the key elements of the Cultural Competency Curriculum and the essential steps in developing culturally appropriate materials
• 2) Describe some of the barriers facing the East African community in their attempts to access health care and practice preventive measures towards better health in the US

Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Access Immigration

Related Web page: www.projectconcern.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Part-time employee