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

Abstract #72333

Jeanne Silberstein, MPH, RD¹, Sonia J. Vega, BS¹, and Eddy Jara, MPH, RD². (1) San Bernardino County Department of Public Health Nutrition Program, 351 N. Mt. View Avenue, Room 104, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0010, (2) California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness Program, California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness Program, 2160 Shattuck Avenue Suite 610, Berkeley, CA 94704

The goal of the Norton Neighborhood Nutrition Network is to prevent nutrition related chronic diseases in San Bernardino County residents. The target audience is Spanish speaking women with children attending schools within the San Bernardino Joint Unified School District. The target health objective is to increase dietary consumption of vegetables by one serving per day. The lead agency, partners and members of the community identified the behavioral objective for the campaign. Participatory formative research was conducted to identify campaign strategies. Campaign message and materials were piloted with members of the target audience. The lead agency, core group and advocates (promotoras)collaborated to implement the following campaign components: messages promoting vegetable consumption were disseminated through multiple channels, conducted a series of workshops that included nutrition education and vegetable gardening, and school policy change. Campaign evaluation consisted of pre and post intercept surveys, case studies and activity documentation. Evaluation results revealed an increase in the target behavior and success in identifying policy change goals. Community based participatory strategies utilized in this campaign can have implications to similar projects that want to influence behavior and environmental factors affecting health behaviors.

Learning Objectives:

"At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session will be able to:
• List the steps used to build a community's capacity to promote a health behavior."
• Apply community based participatory strategies that promote vegetable consumption among Latinas."
• Develop a campaign that is designed and directed by community members

Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Latinas

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: San Bernardino County Department of Public Health Nutrition Program
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.