The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #41145

Anat Jaffe, MD¹, Yitzhak Farda, RN¹, Elias Yaakov, RN¹, Avraham Yatmani, RN¹, and Nurit Guttman, PhD². (1) Endocrine and Diabetes Unit, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel, 972-4-630-4748, jaffe@hillel_yaffe.health.gov.il, (2) Department of Communication, Tel-Aviv University, P. O. Box 39040, Tel-Aviv, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel

Background: Ethiopian immigrants to Israel face not only the challenge of adjusting to a dramatically new lifestyle and a different type of healthcare system, while attempting to preserve their unique heritage, they also need to cope with the management of Western chronic illnesses, literally unknown to them in Ethiopia. A community-based project called Tene Briut was created to advance culturally-appropriate prevention, detection and treatment efforts. Methods: A group of Ethiopian health professionals with a high commitment to community service was trained in diabetes prevention and management. It helped develop computerized presentations and produced a film that focuses on the hardships and challenges associated with cultural transition and draws on Ethiopian imagery, sayings and fables. The project works through community outreach, in collaboration with primary care clinics, community centers, and local leadership. Results: The project has generated great interest in the Ethiopian community. Over 70 educational programs were implemented in community settings and new collaboration are planned, including activities with religious leaders, actors, artists and Ethiopian radio programs. A conference--first of its kind-was organized for Ethiopian healthcare workers, focusing on chronic illness associated with acculturation to western lifestyle. The conference resulted in the development of resolutions and a network of Ethiopian healthcare workers who emphasized the need to focus on mental health issues and community involvement in health promotion. Conclusions: Ethiopian community members and healthcare professionals are keenly interested in implementing community-centered, culturally-appropriate interventions that promote both the welfare and pride of the community. Lessons from the Tene Briut program serve as a basis for policy recommendations.

Learning Objectives:

• Develop a community-centered health promotion intervention for Ethiopian immigrants
• Generate a list of cultural factors that are important in health promotion of immigrant populations in conditions similar to the Ethiopian population in Israel
• Apply the use of different materials and communication media to health promotion with an emphasis on cultural heritage of an immigrant population

Keywords: Community Programs, Immigrants

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.