Applying community engagement principles to a neighborhood-based survey of adult chronic disease risks: Baseline findings from Community Interventions for Health, New Haven

Community Interventions for Health is an international collaborative that aims to decrease chronic disease through comprehensive research and interventions that address poor diet, tobacco use, and lack of physical activity. New Haven is the first US city to participate, and draws from the partnership and expertise of community leaders and Yale researchers to address persistent chronic disease disparities among its predominantly low-income, minority communities. Baseline data was collected in the summer and fall of 2009 to assess the health attitudes, risk behaviors, and health status of New Haven residents. This presentation focuses on the surveys conducted among adults from 1,205 randomly selected households in six of New Haven's highest-risk neighborhoods. A team of 20 trained community interviewers conducted the surveys, yielding an 85% response rate. Results indicate these residents have more chronic health conditions than the national average. Less than half report eating fruit or vegetables every day, and the majority of those who do, eat just 1 or 2 servings. Fifty-three report doing no vigorous exercise in the previous 7 days, and 38% report no moderate exercise. In addition, respondents reported high rates of stress, food insecurity (18%), and smoking rates (31%). In conclusion, residents of low-income neighborhoods in New Haven report poor health and high risk for chronic disease. Community-based surveyors and endorsement from important local organizations allowed for the collection of valuable and previously uncollected data. These data were immediately shared with community advocates and are currently being used to develop community-supported comprehensive, sustainable, and evidence-based interventions.