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

Abstract #69874

Amy M. Carroll, MPH¹, Sarah E Stone, MPH¹, Sarah E. Samuels, DrPH¹, and Zoe Cardoza Clayson, ScD². (1) Samuels & Associates, 1204 Preservation Park Way, Oakland, CA 94612, (510) 271-6799, amycarr@ucla.edu, (2) Department of Health Education, San Francisco State University, 6 Locksley Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122

BACKGROUND: The last decade has seen a dramatic rise in the rate of type 2 diabetes in the United States and California, particularly among low-income and racial/ethnic minority communities. Factors that impact an individual’s ability to prevent or self-manage the disease include: characteristics of the physical environment (safe spaces for physical activity and access to healthy foods), attributes of the social environment (individual and community support for diabetes prevention and management behaviors), and access to affordable quality health care. The California Endowment funded eight organizations throughout California to develop innovative solutions to rising rates and racial/ethnic disparities by focusing on improving these diabetes prevention and self-management factors. METHODS: As part of the ongoing, multi-method evaluation of grantees, an environmental scan was conducted in six of the programs’ targeted low-income and ethnic-specific neighborhoods, to describe the physical environment. To identify environmental characteristics that enhance or inhibit healthy behaviors for at-risk or already diagnosed individuals, this scan collected local resource information from grantee personnel and community health workers, searched publicly available listings and websites, and conducted key informant interviews with local agencies. FINDINGS: Environmental characteristics were mapped using geographic information system software, demonstrating population density and demographics, location of diabetes-related local assets, and gaps in available or accessible prevention, management or treatment resources. This paper will present the environmental scan map products, discuss the barriers built environments pose for current diabetes prevention and treatment programs, and explain how this data was used to inform subsequent ethnographic case study research in these communities.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• 3. Explain what factors in a community environment can enhance or inhibit healthy behaviors that impact the prevention, management and treatment of diabetes.
  6. Describe how the depiction of these environmental factors in a mapped product can be used to highlight particular needs in low-income, underserved and racial/ethnic minority communities.
  9. List effective program models and strategies that can be implemented to address gaps in community environmental resources and assets and harmful environmental characteristics.

Keywords: Diabetes, Environment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The California Endowment; The Solano Coalition for Better Health; The White Memorial Medical Center Charitable Foundation; Riverside-San Bernardino County Indian Health, Inc.; The Redwood Community Health Coalition; the Alameda County Public Health De
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am an evaluator of The California Endowmen'ts Diabetes Initiative