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

Abstract #111099

Idethia Shevon Harvey, DrPH¹, Amy Schulz, PhD², Sharon Sand, MPP³, Murlisa Lockett, MA⁴, Sheryl Weir, MPH⁵, Noble A.-W. Maseru, PhD, MPH⁴, and Deanna Myrie⁴. (1) University of Michigan, 109 S Observatory, M3047, SPH - II, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, 734-936-1189, idethiaharvey@hotmail.com, (2) Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, 5134 SPH II, 1420 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, (3) Promoting Healthy Eating in Detroit, University of Michigan, 1080 S. University, Room 3751, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, (4) Detroit Health Department, 1151 Taylor Rm 646B, Detroit, MI 48202, (5) Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, 1420 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

African Americans in the United States and in Detroit disproportionately experience cardiovascular disease (CVD) and Type II diabetes when compared with white Americans. Nationally the prevalence of diabetes in Hispanic Americans is much higher than in Americans without Hispanic ancestry, while studies report mixed findings for CVD in this group. In order to encourage African American and Hispanic women within Detroit to obtain early screening and follow up for both diabetes and hypertension, the Village Health Worker Partnership, a community-based participatory research partnership affiliated with the Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center, developed the Healthy Connections Village Health Worker Project (HCVWHP). Funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and based at the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion, the HCVHWP uses a community health worker model to provide education, screening and encourage follow up among women of color. In this presentation, we will focus the use of informal social networks to increase awareness, screening, and early diagnosis of CVD and diabetes. This session will describe conceptual models for social network interventions, and the application of those conceptual frameworks in the development of this intervention. Furthermore, we will describe components of the training process and the participatory process used to develop the intervention. Finally, we will present preliminary data as well as discuss lessons learned about the application of a participatory process within the context of a community-health worker intervention designed to build on social networks as an important resource for health promotion among women of color in Detroit.

Learning Objectives: