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

Abstract #73967

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:

At the end of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: (
• Recognize and implement the procedure for hosting a church-sponsored community health fair (
• Recognize the benefits of minority churches assuming the responsibility for promoting healthy behaviors of a minority community in an urban setting (
• Apply this community health strategy as a viable health promotion activity to reach the medically underserved.

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.