Participatory formative evaluation of health education efforts for infant mortality reduction in African American community in the mid west

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

3154.0: Monday, November 11, 2002 - Board 6

Abstract #44545

Cecelia Creighton, MAM, Charles Drew Health Center, Omaha Healthy Start, 2201 North 30th Street, Omaha, NE 68111, (402) 455-2229, ceceliac@cdhcmedical.com and Manoj Sharma, PhD, School of HPER, University of Nebraska at Omaha & Walden University, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68182-0216.

In 1996, the state of Nebraska had the seventh worst infant mortality rate (IMR) in the nation and 1997 and 1998 had the highest IMR in the African American community in the country. Since early nineties a community-based initiative, Omaha Healthy Start, has been launched in this urban geographical area with 46% of the families being from African American community. The program has articulated measurable objectives and secured federal funding for implementing activities in the areas of case management, outreach/client recruitment, and health education/training. The purpose of this article is to summarize the results from participatory formative evaluation of selected health education efforts undertaken by the program in the year 2001. One of the educational efforts was a campaign designed around the African American proverb, "When spider webs unite they can tie up the lion" designed to enhance community collaboration and participation. A pre-test post-test design was utilized to track behavioral antecedents. Statistically significant changes were noted in the study variables. The second campaign focused on influencing behavioral antecedents pertaining to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). A post-test only design demonstrated mastery of knowledge and intent to engage in SIDS preventive behaviors. Community representatives participated in all aspects of both campaigns. The participatory formative evaluation provides ample evidence for expansion and replication of the approaches tested in these efforts.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this presentation the participants will be able to

1. Describe the participatory process of planning educational campaigns in African American communities pertaining to infant mortality reduction.
2. Describe the participatory process of implementing and evaluating educational campaigns in African American communities pertaining to infant mortality reduction
3. Replicate similar descriptive studies in their settings.

Keywords: Infant Mortality, Community

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: I am an employee of the community-based organization whose activitie sare described in this article.

Ethnicity, Culture and Health: Partnerships in the US and Abroad

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA