The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #51199

Donna L. Milavetz, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1100 Washington Avenue South, #201, Minneapolis, MN 55415, MN, (612) 625-4887, Milavetz@epi.umn.edu

Cardiovascular disease is a major public health problem affecting approximately 500,000 women annually.(1) Minority women have a disproportionate burden of disease relative to Caucasian women. Although much research is focused on etiologic mechanisms, the foundation for any disease treatment is prevention. The conventional office-based counseling approach to risk reduction in women has not been successful, particularly among minority populations. We hypothesize that using a gender sensitive, community-based mother/grandmother-daughter partnership will be a more successful cardiovascular prevention program for minority women. We hypothesize that women are motivated to change health behaviors that their children perceive are important, and that the dialogue and time with their children fosters social support. We also predict that if the participants create the design of this program, the immediate and long-term success will be greater. We hope to identify variables associated with limitations in attaining healthy behaviors in women. We will outline a theoretical model to support this hypothesis as well as a plan for developing the program. The model consists of data collection on health perception and program design for the following groups: daughters, mothers/grandmothers, community health advisory group, and the community health clinic where the program will be implemented. We will then analyze the data to find common variables between groups on which to build the program design. We report the first phase of data collection and analysis of the “daughter” group using teen health educators in an urban public high school to gain insight into their realities of what health and prevention are, and variables that might prevent them and their mothers/grandmothers from leading a more healthy life.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the presentation, the participant should be able to understand the limitations of medical model prevention programs as they relate to gender-based interactions and minority populations, identify the unique adult learning styles of women, and the social variables that might impede healthy lifestyle behaviors for women.

Keywords: Prevention,

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.