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

Abstract #73298

Teshia Solomon, PhD, diane pina, and Rose Hook. School of Public Health San Antonio Regional Campus, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78248-7976, 210/567-5937, solomont@uthscsa.edu

It is estimated that annually 600 Texas children are born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and the effects on the fetus has not been established. Therefore, women about to become pregnant are believed to be at-risk as well as pregnant women. About one half of all pregnancies are unintended and most women do not learn they are pregnant until six weeks later. Characteristics of drinking among the general population include: 1) being unmarried, employed or a student, having an annual income of either less than $10,000 or more than $50,000, being college educated, a smoker and of a minority or ethnic group. Por el Amor de los Niņos (PAN) is a community-based project to prevent FAS/FAE among San Antonio Latinas. This project explores values, attitudes and behaviors regarding pregnancy, alcohol use, sexual activity, & knowledge of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol exposure (FAE). It aims to motivate participants to voluntarily conduct an FAS/FAE social action project (SAP) following an intervention based on the Frierian concept of praxis. Participants interviewed medical professionals and adoptive and/or birth parents of children with FAS/FAE, children themselves and advocates for prevention and support. Following these interviews the, participants practiced the dialogue process using the SHOWED/VERDAD model. The presentation will share methods for recruiting Latina community participants, bilingual materials, and results of the SAPs (approximately 30% of participants were motivated to participate as a volunteer in an SAP). Knowledge, attitude and behavior change results will be presented.

Learning Objectives:

• Following this session participants will be able to:
• understand the Freirian model of Praxis;
• articulate methods of recruitment of Latinas;
• develop an intervention to promote social action.

Keywords: Alcohol, Social Activism

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.