Arlene Calvo, PhD Disclosures

11/10/14 “Ambiente limpio es ambiente sano” (Clean environment is a healthy environment):
Environmental health educa=on in Ngäbe-­‐Buglé Indigenous popula=on
Arlene Calvo, PhD, MPH , Community and Family Health, Global Health, University of South Florida Panama Program, Panama, Panama Lourdes Alguero, RN, MPH , Universidad de Panamá, Panamá Silvio Vega, MD MSC , Microbiology, Social Security System, Panama, Panama Arturo Rebollon, MD, MPH, CPH , USF Health InternaJonal FoundaJon, University of South Florida, Panama, Panama Morgan Hess-­‐Holtz, MPH, CPH , USF Health InternaJonal FoundaJon, Panama City, Panama AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE November 18, 2014 8:30 -­‐ 8:50 AM Objec=ves
Demonstrate the applicaJon of community parJcipaJon in the development of culturally sensiJve material for health educaJon. Describe the outcomes of an environmental health educaJon intervenJon. Disclosures
Arlene Calvo, PhD
The following personal financial relaJonships with commercial interests relevant to this presentaJon existed during the past 12 months: No rela(onships to disclose 1 11/10/14 Background
Exacerba(ng Factors for Poverty Growing PopulaJon Poor child health Poor maternal health Extreme poverty Access to services Background
The Ngäbe-­‐Buglé is the largest indigenous populaJon in Panama with 156,747 inhabitants. This rural populaJon lives in extreme poverty with difficult mountainous geography that isolates and exacerbates health dispariJes. Lack of resources, informaJon, and access to services contribute to inadequate management of community surrounding environment impacJng public health outcomes. Implementa=on
Forma(ve research using qualitaJve and quanJtaJve methods guided a train-­‐the-­‐trainer parJcipatory process to educate community Promotores to disseminate educaJon messages to their respecJve communiJes. 2 11/10/14 Implementa=on
Each health promoter trained completed pre-­‐
post tes(ng ques(onnaires and received an educaJonal kit (culturally appropriate flipchart, report forms, water-­‐proof bag). Implementa=on
Health Promoters delivered health trainings in their communiJes for 6 months (Avg. 2/month/ promoter) Implementa=on
Promotores en Acción (Health promoters in acJon) 3 11/10/14 Results
The environment as a health topic was the second most requested theme (44%). Environment focused on indoor and outdoor sanitaJon, management of garbage and latrines, and accident prevenJon in the house. Results
78 lay Promotores reached a total of 7,000 community members educated over a one-­‐
year period. 2,238 received training focused on the topic of the environment and impact on health. Results
Post-­‐knowledge evaluaJon resulted in improved measures regarding proper water storage and garbage disposal. 4 11/10/14 Results
Inten(on measurement Follow up with community
People Trained by Month and by Theme. January -­‐ December 2013 (N=7,600) Follow up with community
People Trained by Month and by Theme. January -­‐ June 2014 (N=4,860) 5 11/10/14 Why does this project maOer?
•  The examinaJon of important health themes as determined by community with training of health promoters using culturally appropriate material increased knowledge and community engagement to improve pracJced norms in the community. •  The community involvement maximizes sustainability of efforts in combaJng specific health dispariJes in regions with limited resources and geographic difficulty. Acknowledgments
Thanks
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