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Home > Health Sciences > JHDRP > Vol. 9 (2015) > Iss. 2

 

Keywords

African Americans; blood pressure; church-based health interventions

Disciplines

Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Public Health | Public Health Education and Promotion

Abstract

The overall purpose was to determine the feasibility and initial outcomes of a faith-based intervention to improve blood pressure (BP) control in African American (AA) parents/guardians and their children, using a pre/post without control group design. Sample included AA parents and children (n=17) from three churches in North Florida. Health behaviors (daily servings of fruits/vegetables [F/V], minutes of physical activity [PA]) and physical health (BMI, systolic BP and diastolic SB) were examined. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and correlations. Feasibility outcomes showed high attendance (91% children, 88% parents) and completion (100%) rates. F/V significantly increased at post-test in adults (p=.02) and approached significance in children (p=.07). Positive trends at post-test were noted in PA, BMI, SBP and DBP in both groups. There were significant correlations at post-test for F/V (p=.01) and SBP (p=.006) for the parent/child dyads. Findings suggest that the intervention was feasible and has promise to improve health outcomes.

Permissions

Penny A. Ralston

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