The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #56524

Stacey B Plichta, ScD¹, Betty A. Powers-Luhn, RN, MSN¹, C. Thomas Somma, PhD, MT(ASCP) SC¹, Kellie R. Murphree, BSDH, MS², Jewel S. Goodman, MPA¹, and Shreeram U. Kumar, MS³. (1) College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, 129 Spong Hall, Norfolk, VA 23529, 757 683-4989, splichta@odu.edu, (2) School of Dental Hygiene, Old Dominion University, Technology Building, Norfolk, VA 23529, (3) Urban Services - Health, Old Dominion University, Spong Hall, Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, VA 23529

Community health fairs are a good health promotion strategy for medically underserved urban areas. This study explores the characteristics of attendees at a fair held in a poor, ethnically mixed urban area (median income $15K). The fair was a University-church partnership, and consisted of booths providing health information on a variety of topics and screening stations for blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol. All booths were staffed by students, with faculty supervision when necessary. A total of 64 people attended, with 42 completing the survey. Participants were predominately female (69%), African-American (67 %) and between the ages of 50-69 (41%). Pre-existing health conditions reported by participants included diabetes (10%), hypertension (34%) and elevated cholesterol levels (34%). Blood tests conducted at the fair indicated that 15% had high blood glucose and 12% had elevated blood cholesterol. Among those screened for dental conditions, six had decay and one had an urgent need for dental care. All participants with a health need were referred for follow-up to their physician or local providers. Of concern is that over 50% had no regular source of health care. Participants were also invited to a weekly exercise class and a monthly health-screening program held at the church. This community health fair was successful because it reached people with no regular source of health care, and that it detected those at risk for health problems. Overall, we recommend the church-based health fair, paired with a good referral system, as a strategy to reach the urban medically underserved.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to:
• Describe the benefits of university-church partnerships paired with a good referral system.
• Apply the community health fair approach as a health promotion strategy for medically underserved urban areas.
• Articulate the procedure for assessing pre-existing health conditions among community residents and providing on-going health promotion activities staffed by students and faculty.

Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Screening

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.