Session
Centering Community in Public Health Research and Practice
APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo
Abstract
Improving the accessibility of brownfield data for community engagement through a public health lens
APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo
Issues: Brownfields pose a significant threat to public health, negatively impacting both human and socioeconomic health in a community. Brownfield data may not be presented in a public health lens that is understandable by the community, thus hindering opportunities for quality engagement through risk communication, discussion, and land reuse. This project enhanced the accessibility of brownfield data by creating reference guides and educational materials that community stakeholders can use to engage in environmental health monitoring.
Description: This project resulted in the development of four reference guides on how to navigate U.S. Census and environmental health mapping tools, and a consultation guide that combines U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) brownfield site data and public health implications.
Lessons Learned: All four reference guides will be published in an ATSDR environmental health report of Berrien County, Michigan, and the consultation guide was incorporated as a reference tool for community-led brownfield redevelopment in a forthcoming manuscript.
Recommendations: The products developed in this project improve the communicability of brownfield data and associated public health risks. This project sought to improve environmental health education to inspire informed, decision-making action in communities across the United States. Continued investment in environmental health programming, brownfield assessment and cleanup initiatives, and community-centered redevelopment strategies can create lasting change in the way individuals thrive in their built environment.
Abstract
Piloting a Culturally Sensitive Scorecard for Interventions with Racial-Ethnic Minorities: An Evaluation of CONNECT for Black Fathers
APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo
Background: Cultural adaptation is the modification of evidence-based treatments to align with the cultural practices, language, and beliefs of a targeted population. Cultural adaptation of interventions has proven to enhance effectiveness and consumer satisfaction. CONNECT is a trauma-informed group intervention for caretakers of adolescents with mental health difficulties. The program, sponsored by Annie E. Casey Foundation, was implemented in late 2021-early 2022 for a all-Black fathers group; a first for the intervention. As part of the evaluation regime, a scorecard was created to assess the relevance of the intervention for Black fathers. The scorecard included the following principles: 1) racial socialization of parenting, 2) linguistic adaptation, 3) prevailing cultural norms, 4) cultural norms related to mental health, 5) treatment goals specific to the cultural group, 6) identity concordance between facilitators and participants, and 7) intervention methods adapted to the needs of participants. The scorecard represents a contribution to the field as there currently is no tool like this to assess the cultural relevance of an intervention.
Methods: Four reviewers used the scorecard when reviewing recordings of CONNECT sessions. Reviewers observed 3 sessions each, and rated each of the 7 principles on a nominal scale: yes, unclear, and no. Reviewers were two Black men and two Black women all of whom specialize in Black men’s well-being. Three hold doctorate degrees and 1 reviewer is a PhD candidate. Interrater reliability was performed for each principle using the percent agreement method.
Results: Interrater reliability indicates high reliability for principles racial socialization (94%), linguistic adaptation (100%), mental health (91.7%) and identity concordance (89%). Reliability for intervention methods was moderate (80.7%). Reliability for cultural norms and treatment goals was poor.
Conclusion: This tool shows promise and can be further tested for internal consistency to refine items with lesser agreement. It is important that we expand our understanding of cultural relevance from just racial/ethnic diversity but to gender sensitivity as well since most interventions focus on women and youth.
Abstract
“If it was led by young Black people like me”: Young Black Adults’ Wants and Needs in a Culturally Tailored Technology-Based Sexual Health Intervention
APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo
Background:
Young Black adults (YBAs) face higher disparities in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) than their non-Black counterparts. Culturally-tailored sexual health interventions can promote long-term, safer sexual health habits, particularly those that are technology-based. Little research has examined YBAs' wants, needs, and expectations in a technology-based intervention. This study explores YBAs' wants, needs, and expectations in a technology-based, sexual health promotion and HIV prevention intervention.
Methods:
Convenience and snowball sampling methods were used to recruit 19 YBA aged 18 to 24 who reported being sexually active. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted via zoom and over the phone to explore their STD/HIV prevention behaviors, social media use, interest in technology-based sexual health interventions, and participant ideas for technology-based interventions. Interviews were transcribed and inductive thematic analysis was conducted.
Results:
Thematic analysis of data revealed three main themes: (1) interest in sexual health related social media accounts, apps, and/or podcasts; (2) a desire for cultural tailored sexual health interventions; and (3) A need for exploring a range of sexual health and relationship topics. All the participants reported being interested in following a sexual health-based social media account, using a sexual health related app, or listening to a podcast focused on sexual health and relationships. YBAs also expressed interest in wanting interventions tailored toward their race, sex, and age.
Conclusions:
This study’s findings show the interest and need for culturally tailored technology-based interventions (e.g. social media, apps, or podcasts) geared toward YBA to educate and promote safer sexual health behaviors.
Abstract
Engaging African American male youth in assessing factors affecting their own health and wellbeing: a photovoice and community engagement approach
APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo
Issues
African American youth in Harrisburg City face tough challenges to their mental health and well-being due to high rates of violence, overwhelming poverty, little to no access to higher education and severe economic stagnation.
Description
This study seeks to produce recommendations to improve the mental health and well-being of male youth in the region through youth-driven surveying, photovoice analysis and policy-oriented presentations. The two-pronged approach of surveying and photovoice analysis provides a comprehensive look at the community needs and assets of male youth to ensure adequate interventions by policymakers.
Lessons Learned
Photovoice analysis proved to be an effective method to gather data about the priorities in the community while building a fruitful relationship between the researchers and community members. By using photovoice, marginalized communities that have long felt that their voices were not heard found a way to play a major role in community revitalization and policy decision-making, thus ensuring long-term sustainability of community engagement.
Recommendations
Top priorities in communities similar to Harrisburg were mental health and trauma, safety and violence. Our research goes beyond data collection by curating a photovoice exhibit with the help of policymakers in Harrisburg, who are already engaged in this project. The exhibit will serve as a way to guide the decisions of policymakers to make sustainable, effective changes in the communities impacted and as a tool for other researchers studying similar regions.