Introduction: Piedmont Health District provides local public health services for seven central Virginia counties. Compared to the state and nation, these residents are more likely to be poor, African-American, and have difficulty accessing medical care. African-Americans in Piedmont are significantly more likely than Whites to be overweight, poor, have sedentary lifestyles, and to die from chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease; the health disparities are wider than that of Virginia and the US. This intervention investigated whether a faith-based intervention could reduce cardiovascular risk factors.
Methods: African-American churches were recruited to participate in this program. The church serves both as the principal meeting area and key motivator for change amongst Piedmont's African-American adult population. Participants received four sessions on cardiovascular risk reduction education and were assessed at baseline and after six months for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and dietary fat intake. Lay health workers facilitated the church meetings through faith-based exercise regimens called "Praisercising" and by monitoring the program's progress. Incentives were used as motivators for success and completion of the program.
Results: 106 members of 6 churches enrolled in the program, of which 84 participants and 5 churches completed follow-up evaluations. 63% of participants decreased their BMI, 83% decreased waist circumference, 88% decreased dietary fat, and 99% increased exercise. This represented an average decrease of 0.77 BMI, decreased waist circumference of 1.8 inches, and decrease in dietary fat intake of 6.9%.
Conclusion: Faith-based interventions are a compelling and powerful source of lifestyle behavior change in rural African-American communities.
See www.vdh.state.va.us/LHD/Piedmont/Piedmontmain.htmLearning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Faith Community, Minority Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Piedmont Health District, Virginia Department of Health
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.