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

Abstract #115797

Lorraine Cole, PhD, Reach 2010, Black Women's Health Imperative, 600 Pennslyvania Ave S E Suite 310, Washington, DC 20003, Christi Stewart, MPH, Wellness Resource Navigator, Black Women's Health Imperative; REACH 2010: At the Heart of New Orleans, 1515 Poydras Street, Suite 1020, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504.680.2810, christis@nbwhp.org, and Sylvia Denson, BSN, Self Help Coordinator, REACH 2010, 1515 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70112.

Heart disease is the number one killer of African American women. Cardiovascular diseases claim the lives of half a million women each year, about a death per minute. REACH 2010 @ the Heart of New Orleans is a 3 year research CVD intervention study targeting African American women in underserved communities to reduce their CVD risk factors. Using the AHA guide for improving cardiovascular health at the community level, the Logic Model, and Prochaska's theory, collaborative partnership strategies to promote and measure heart healthy behavior were established and evaluated to determine what works best in African American faith based environments. 40 churches were randomized in a quasi-experimental research design to deliver doses of intervention to 1200 African American women. Interventions tested included heart health education, physical activity and nutrition along with Walking for Wellness and Self-help groups. A Community Health Assessment Survey, the primary tool for measuring the impact of interventions on individual women's behavior revealed that over 70% of study participants were overweight, yet more aware of their family history of CVD risk factors then they were of their own susceptibility to heart disease. Innovative strategies that empower AA to take charge of their health and navigate the health care delivery system will be presented. A detailed description of the 3 R's of Healthy Community Education. The 3 R's are, Resources, Referrals for Risk Management of CVD and Reminders from community leaders that are solution focused and based on clinical guidelines for women's health.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the presentation, the participant will be able to (
• identify three major health Black women’s health issues; (
• articulate the role of REACH 2010 @the Heart of New Orleans gender specific interventions reducing CVD risk factors in promoting Black women’s health; and (
• discuss racism and health care delivery system barriers to reducing heart health disparities.

Keywords: Advocacy, Women's Health

Related Web page: www.blackwomenshealth.org

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.