Online Program

329045
Beyond the Pew: Use of a Culturally Appropriate Congregational Health Needs Assessment to Develop and Implement Obesity and Diabetes Interventions in a Large African American Baptist Church in South Los Angeles


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Dawnesha Beaver, MPH, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Jonathan Reid, MPH, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Valerie Ruelas, MSW, LCSW, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Ellen Iverson, MPH, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Megan Lipton-Inga, MA, CCRP, Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Sherell Eurey, New Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, Los Angeles, CA
Ali Johnson, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children's Hosptial Los Angeles, Los Angeles,, CA
Rev. Sonja Dawson, MPA, JD, New Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, Los Angeles, CA
Since 2009, the rates of obesity in adults and adolescents in Los Angeles County have significantly increased.  Presently, 23.6% of residents in Los Angeles County are obese. In addition, 22.4% of adolescents (grades 5, 7, and 9) are obese.  However, in South Los Angeles, the rates of obesity are significantly higher for adults at 32.7% and 29% for adolescents as compared to LA County with African Americans experiencing higher mortality than any other racial/ethnic group. Although it has been well documented that obesity is the leading cause for coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, insufficient attention has been given to role of spirituality as a meditating factor in the interplay of social, psychological, and environmental factors that influence health behavior outcomes. In efforts to address obesity and diabetes in the African American community, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement partnered with New Mount Calvary Baptist Church to implement a two year pilot obesity and diabetes intervention program funded by the California Community Foundation. This presentation will highlight preliminary findings from a comprehensive 49 question health needs assessment of over 300 congregants to address individual obesity and/or diabetes risk in relation to five domains of health. Initial results indicated that 21% of respondents had been diagnosed with diabetes, 39% high cholesterol, 12% high blood pressure, and 18% with other chronic conditions. Findings from this research are being used to implement faith-based derived obesity and diabetes interventions including education, lifestyle interventions, and linkages to health care.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
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
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the role of spirituality as a mediating factor in developing culturally relevant faith-based health promotion programming. Use research tools and analytical methods to critically analyze, monitor and assess the health status of populations. Describe the impact of health needs assessments in individual and population health program development in faith-based communities.

Keyword(s): Health Assessment, Faith Community

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present this abstract as I serve as Project Coordinator II for CHLA as well as Director of Special Projects at New Mt. Calvary in which this project has been implemented. For over 7 years, I have been involved in public health research on federally funded and foundational funded grants. My scientific and community health research interests have been linked to developing culturally appropriate health engagement strategies.
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.