220700 RURAL COMMUNITY HEALTH DEVELOPMENT: US Public Health Students Work from 2001-2009

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 12:45 PM - 1:00 PM

Clara Haignere, PhD, MPH, CHES , Department of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Elizabeth Buckingham, MSW/Public Health Student , Department of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Aasit Nanavati, BS Public Health , Department of Epidemiology, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA
Franchesca Ali, BS Public Health , NA, NA, Browns Mills, NJ
Megan Halkins, BS Public Health Student , Department of Public Health, Temple University, Bethlehem, PA
Safiya Yearwood, BS Public Health , NA, NA, Bawtucket, RI
Acacia Asbell, Social Work Student , Department of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Ashley Roseboro, Neuroscience Student , College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Accokeek, MD
Ian Ross, Cognitive Science Student , NA, Temple University, Walling Ford, PA
Linh Nguyen, Student , NA, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Peter Zavitsanos, MPH(c) , NA, Temple University, Blue Bell, PA
Rosalie De Lombaert, Student , Ocmr #2572, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
Since 2002, Temple University has run a six-week, rural Costa Rican health program with more than sixty students. They have two weeks intensive Spanish and learn rural group-dynamic skills; conduct household needs assessments and use ethnographic methodologies to develop health education workshops. The communities have benefited from feedback to clinical staff about the community's desire for a lay-health committee, a pharmacy, earlier prenatal care, emergency care services, and adequate police resources. The first three were successfully implemented between 2004 and 2006. Other workshops provide information on hypertension, diabetes, cancer, fitness, diet, HIV/AIDS, hand washing, domestic violence, first-aid training, adolescent drug use and vegetable gardening. In 2009, students offered five workshops in nutrition and hand washing in primary schools, 15 home visits to elderly diabetics, a one-day health fair, daily aerobic and Karate classes, and constructed two vegetable gardens. The 2009 student program evaluations indicated on a scale from 1-5 (5=strongly agree) a positive atmosphere (4.8); an overall well taught program (4.7); improved students' analytical and critical evaluate abilities (4.6), and reports of ‘learning a great deal' (4.6). Students' subjective comments: "Presentations, meetings, and Spanish classes gave amazing prep work. The hands-on experiences and the community work gave a visual and personal feel for the topic." "I enjoyed the multiple methods of learning, such as lectures, group work, and presentations." "The direct contact with our focus groups in Ortega and with host families really helped me feel more comfortable with Spanish and with teaching nutrition." "With a word, this was priceless.”

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
1. Demonstrate the use of training workshops in rural Costa Rica that identify and provide effective interventions in rural communities. 2. Articulate how international programs offer professional development for global PH students and 3. Identify how public health programs can provide valuable skills and resources for communities in developing countries.

Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Global Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the program director for Temple University's Costa Rica Public Health Summer Abroad program.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.