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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Dora Araceli Tovar, MPH¹, Rachael Fulp, MPH¹, and Paula Johnson, MD, MPH². (1) Center for Cardiovascular Disease in Women, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, BC-3, Boston, MA 02115, 617 525-7520, dtovar@partners.org, (2) Executive Director, Connor's Center for Women's Health and Gender Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, PB5, Boston, MA 02115

Purpose To implement a cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and training program for Latina women in a community setting. Methodology A teaching hospital and community health center came together to develop a CVD risk reduction program to address the disproportionately high rate of CVD among Latina women in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts (JP). We recruited eight Latina women between 43 and 64 years of age to participate in a one-year program. Participants were trained using a CVD risk reduction curriculum designed for Latina women, and were trained as focus group facilitators. Participants engaged in numerous health activities and facilitated a series of focus groups on eating patterns and habits among Latina women in JP. Results We administered pre- and post-intervention food frequency and physical activity questionnaires. Results stated that the participants increased their consumption of fruits and vegetables and whole grain products, decreased their consumption of fried food, and substantially increased their levels of physical activity. Additionally, focus group data were used to develop culturally acceptable healthy menus. Conclusion Combining CVD risk reduction and focus group facilitation enabled participants to assume mastery and control over their own health. The participants provided mutual support to one another and now serve as role models in their community. This program demonstrates the value using a collaborative approach to CVD risk reduction among Latina women that addresses the importance of mutual support and empowerment. This process could be useful for development other risk programs for Latina women and for other racial and ethnic groups.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants in this session will be able to

• Articulate the key steps to implementing a cardiovascular disease risk prevention program tailored to Latina community women in a community setting.
• Describe and discuss strategies needed to recruit Latina women.
• Discuss the unique role that community women can play to support one another while participating in a cardiovascular disease risk prevention program.
• Describe and discuss the ways that training community women as focus group facilitators can be an effective means for rich data collection.

Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Latinas

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered