Utilizing Community Resources to Reduce the Presence of Type 2 Diabetes in Rural Youth

Authors

Antonia S. Mead, Johnson C. Smith University
M. C. Nagy, Western Kentucky University
Stephen Nagy, Western Kentucky University

Keywords

Alabama; Behavior modification; Non-insulin-dependent diabetes – Prevention; Preadolescents; Prevention; Rural; Rural children; Type 2 diabetes

Disciplines

Community-Based Research | Demography, Population, and Ecology | Maternal and Child Health | Medicine and Health | Place and Environment | Public Health | Rural Sociology

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to implement a program designed to promote diabetes prevention activities among preadolescents in a rural southern setting using a day camp intervention. Participants in the study were eleven youth from a rural Alabama county who participated in a week-long half-day camp administered by local and community volunteers. Change scores were used to compare pre- to post- to follow-up measures for camp participant responses. Program results consistently demonstrated that the day camp was theoretically sound and that program activities positively impacted behavioral antecedents. This study demonstrated the feasibility of conducting a diabetes prevention day camp in a rural environment. Insights from this intervention can assist planners in rural environments to tailor similar initiatives in rural settings. Given the complicated nature of behavior change, a day camp approach of this length does not modify the behaviors of participants. Behavior changes may take considerably longer to initiate.

Recommended Citation

Mead, Antonia S.; Nagy, M. C.; and Nagy, Stephen (2009) "Utilizing Community Resources to Reduce the Presence of Type 2 Diabetes in Rural Youth," Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice: Vol. 3: Iss. 2, Article 6.
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/jhdrp/vol3/iss2/6