Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109019

Allison E. Myers, MPH, Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina School of Public Health, Campus Box #7400, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7400, 919 967 6621, aemyers@email.unc.edu, Eugenia Eng, DrPH, Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Rosenau Hall - Campus Box 7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7400, and Janice Holden, Project SELF Improvement, Riley Hill Family Life Center, 5901 Riley Hill Road, Wendell, NC 27591.

Background. Adolescence is a vulnerable time when health promoting and health damaging behaviors of adulthood are developed and internalized. Rural, African American adolescents are particularly vulnerable to poor health outcomes as the dimensions of residential environment, race, and age, converge. Purpose and Method. The purpose of this study was to determine the fit between what is relevant to Rural, African American adolescents and the current health promotion programs directed at them. We conducted: (1) a systematic review of published literature on current adolescent health studies and health promotion programming in the U.S. to identify assumptions and priorities about the health of rural, African American adolescents; and (2) a secondary analysis of qualitative data collected during a Photovoice project with 16 African American adolescents from rural North Carolina. Findings from each database were compared and contrasted. Conclusions. Health promotion programming for adolescents is secondary and tertiary in nature, limited to single problem behaviors, and aims primarily to prevent health damaging behaviors. Whereas, the study's rural, African American youth participants would focus on overarching life circumstances, placing high value on interpersonal relationships, spirituality, basketball and other sports, and future family and financial success. Future health promotion practice and research intending to benefit rural, African American adolescents would do well to widen its lens to include social and cultural environments that are viewed by adolescents as directly relevant to their notions of quality of life and what it will take to secure a healthy future.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the learner will be able to

• Provide a rationale for addressing the unique vulnerabilities of rural, African American adolescents.
• Describe current health education programming directed towards rural, African American adolescents.
• Describe relevant interests and concerns of rural, African American adolescents.
• Recommend future health promotion strategies to better serve rural, African American adolescents.

Keywords: Rural Health, African American

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.