The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

3167.0: Monday, November 17, 2003 - Board 9

Abstract #73967

Benefits of a Church-sponsored Community Health Fair in an Urban Setting

Jewel S. Goodman, MPA1, Donald Parker, MS1, Krustal Hilton, MPH1, Holly Beard, MS1, Stacey B Plichta, ScD1, and Rev. Dr. John E. Jones, MTh, DD2. (1) College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, 129 Spong Hall, Norfolk, VA 23529, (2) Pastor, Lakeview Missionary Baptist Church, 635 Brook Avenue, Suffolk, VA 23434

Purpose: Minority populations often lack trust in traditional information sources and may have difficulty communicating with healthcare providers. Many minority community churches have assumed a primary role in promoting healthy behaviors. Community Health Fairs that provide free health screenings can identify pre-existing conditions and make referrals for follow-up care. This study examined the health care needs of participants in a church-sponsored health fair, and the extent to which a community health fair can address those needs.

Methods: A church-sponsored health fair consisting of booths providing information on a variety of topics and screening stations for blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, sickle cell anemia, prostate cancer, and dental examinations was conducted at a rural church in Southern Virginia.

Results: 67 people attended the health fair with 59 completing the survey. Participants were predominately female (57%) and African-American (88%). Age ranged from 18 – 84 and most possessed greater than a high school education. Of those screened, 64% had high blood pressure, 11% high blood glucose, 18% high cholesterol, and more than half were in need of urgent dental care. Over 20% of participants had a screening result that made them aware of a possible chronic health condition and were advised to seek follow-up care. A third of the participants witnessed that the fair provided health information they did not previously possess.

Conclusions: Findings support church-sponsored health fairs as a viable strategy to reach the medically underserved, especially communities that depend on the church to provide guidance in, among other things, their health information.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Health Promotion, Urban 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.

Committee on Affiliates Poster Session

The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA