Pilot of a Diabetes Primary Prevention Program in a Hard-to-Reach, Low-Income, Immigrant Hispanic Population

Authors

Ann V. Millard
Margaret A. Graham, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Xiaohui Wang, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Nelda Mier
Esmeralda R. Sanchez
Isidore Flores
Marta Elizondo-Fournier

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-2011

Abstract

An immigrant Hispanic population in the Texas-Mexico border region urgently requested assistance with diabetes. The project team implemented an exploratory pilot intervention to prevent type 2 diabetes in the general population through enhanced nutrition and physical activity. Social networks in low-income rural areas (colonias) participated in an adaptation of the Diabetes Empowerment Education Program. The program had a pre-post-test design with a comparison group. The intervention had a small but significant effect in lowering body mass index, the biological outcome variable. The process evaluation shows that the participants valued the pilot project and found it culturally and economically appropriate. This program was the first primary prevention program in diabetes to address a general population successfully. The study shows that low-income, rural Mexican American families will take ownership of a program that is participatory and tailored to their culture and economic situation.

Comments

Copyright © 2010, Springer Science Business Media, LLC

https://rdcu.be/c41og

Recommended Citation

Millard, A.V., Graham, M.A., Wang, X. et al. Pilot of a Diabetes Primary Prevention Program in a Hard-to-Reach, Low-Income, Immigrant Hispanic Population. J Immigrant Minority Health 13, 906–913 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-010-9412-y

Publication Title

J Immigrant Minority Health

DOI

10.1007/s10903-010-9412-y