141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

286724
Evaluation of childhood developmental milestones and the warning signs of autism as an effective educational and public health outreach tool for promotoras in south Texas

Monday, November 4, 2013

Aida Vigil , Regional Academic Health Center, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine at San Antonio, Harlingen, TX
Beatriz Tapia, MD, MPH , Department of Family and Community Medicine, South Tx. Env. Education & Research (STEER), University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio - Harlingen Regional Academic Health Center, Harlingen, TX
Noe Garza, DDS, MPH , Academic Coordinator. Department of Family and Community Medicine, South Tx. Env. Education & Research (STEER), UT Health Science Center San Antonio, Harlingen, TX
Raymond Palmer, Ph.D. , Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Data from the Texas Education Agency and Health Resources and Services Administration shows there are fewer autism diagnoses in school districts with higher rates of Hispanic children compared to districts with lower Hispanic rates. Theories such as inadequate access to healthcare, under diagnosis, cultural beliefs toward developmental disorders and a lack of parental education concerning normal developmental milestones attempt to explain the lower rates. There is insufficient data, however, to identify the cause of the lower rates. The South Texas-Mexico border region consists of over 90% Hispanics and suffers from a large shortage of physicians. This large Hispanic population and shortage of healthcare providers, combined with low levels of education, creates an easy situation for children with developmental delays to go unnoticed. We will pilot test a train-the-trainer community intervention designed specifically for promotoras by the Organization for Autism Research. Promotoras, lay healthcare workers, are effective at increasing knowledge concerning general health practices among ethnic minorities. We will train 50 promotoras from Cameron and Hidalgo counties in South Texas to identify normal childhood developmental milestones and recognize delays. We will assess the knowledge of promotoras using pre- and post-test questionnaires. A subset of these promotoras will educate Hispanic families from their community and administer pre- and post-test evaluations. This pilot intervention will provide data and enable researchers to understand the barriers in knowledge and recognition of childhood developmental milestones and delays. Additionally, follow up visits with families will measure the community impact of this health promotion tool for promotoras.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Other professions or practice related to public health
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Identify the barriers to autism diagnosis among Hispanic children compared to white children in South Texas. Discuss the effectiveness and impact of promotoras among residents of South Texas. Assess the need for additional autism educational interventions for Hispanic families in South Texas.

Keywords: Community Health Promoters, Community-Based Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been a research fellow with the Hispanic Autism Research Center in South Texas through part of the University of Texas Health Science Center Regional Academic Health Center in Harlingen. Among my interests have been the development and implementation of community based public health interventions that will increase the general health knowledge of Hispanic families along the South Texas border region.
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.