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

Abstract #61912

Tam Lutz, MPH, MHA¹, Cheryl Ritenbaugh, PhD, MPH², Njeri Karanja, PhD², and Gerardo Maupome, PhD². (1) Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, 527 SW Hall, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97201, 503-228-4185, tlutz@npaihb.org, (2) Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, 3800 North Interstate Avenue, Portland, OR 97227

Currently AI/AN youth experience the highest prevalence of childhood obesity of any U.S. population. Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, which is being diagnosed at increasingly younger ages among AI/ANs. Concurrent with the increases in obesity and diabetes has been a major shift from traditional diet. One of the most prominent changes has been a great increase in the consumption of sugared beverages especially among AI/AN youth. Concurrent with the very high levels of sugared beverage consumption and childhood obesity among AI/AN youth are the highest reported rates in the U.S. of early childhood caries (ECC), a condition known to be strongly related to frequent consumption of simple sugars.

The overall aim of the Toddler Obesity and Tooth Decay Prevention Project or “TOTS” is to test whether community and family-based interventions can alter patterns of sugared-beverage consumption and whether such behavioral changes can reduce the incidence of early childhood obesity and caries.

Before TOTS could create tribal specific interventions, efforts were focused on collecting formative data including community mappings, observations, key informant interviews and focus groups. Formative data collection provided rich information that described the community, the community’s resources, and the community’s attitudes, beliefs, and traditions. Collecting this information set the stage in which the interventions will be placed and assures a culturally relevant and sustainable intervention program. This approach of designing intervention plans also takes advantage of the cultural value placed by American Indians in including future generations, the elders, family and community networks in resolving problems in the community.

Learning Objectives:

Learning Objectives At the close of the session, participants will be able to:
• Articulate the need for formative research in designing Indian specific community intervention plans.
• Describe formative research methods that can be used to describes the community, the community’s resources, and the community’s attitudes, beliefs, and traditions.
• Learn how formative phase data collection has been implemented in tribal communities

Keywords: Obesity, Native Americans

Related Web page: www.npaihb.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center Kaiser Permanente Center for Health ResearchUsi
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.