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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Maria A. Amaya, PhD, School of Nursing, University of Texas at El Paso, 1101 N. Campbell Street, El Paso, TX 79902, 915.747.8583, mamaya@utep.edu
This paper focuses on the role of nurses in binational, multidisciplinary environmental health research projects. The nurse-led study highlighted in this paper seeks to improve the capacity of the El Paso, Texas - Juarez, Mexico binational community to participate in research to identify the etiology of lead exposure among low-income Hispanic children. Project activities will increase the community's capacity to deliver environmental health intervention, prevention, and educational services in a binational setting through collaborative partnerships between academic institutions, community organizations, and stakeholders. Based on original research, this study joins environmental health scientists and community organization members in an interdisciplinary investigative team with the following objectives:
1) estimate the geographic distribution of environmental lead in El Paso and Juarez; 2) estimate the prevalence of elevated blood lead levels in the two cities; 3) differentiate chronic and acute lead exposures in children with elevated lead levels; 4) fractionate lead by etiological source in children; and 5) involve end- users to evaluate a scientifically based, culturally relevant prevention/intervention strategy.
The paper emphasizes the importance of having a Board of Directors (Junta Directiva) with representatives of the bi-national community organizations, universities, and agencies. Members of the Junta Directiva include researchers, professionals, academics, students, and community leaders. Bilingual and linguistically appropriate materials and education efforts will be implemented with the input of this Junta Directiva.
Strategies for and successes and challenges of establishing this bi-national network of researchers, community organizations and professionals will be enumerated.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to
Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Environmental Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.