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Health Education Initiatives Impacting Underserved Populations |
As we approach the year 2000, physical health ranks high on the list of concerns for a large segment of the nation's population. While recent research shows that Americans are more closely following national guide-lines for healthier physical and dietary habits, health care providers contend that the majority of citizens have not yet reached the mark. A lack of knowledge about nutritional practices and limited access to nutritionally adequate foods are primary barriers to positive dietary changes. Research further indicates that some population groups are more predisposed to certain health and nutrition problems because of environmental conditions, ethnicity, gender, and other related factors.
Cardiovascular diseases are involved in 40% of deaths in Alabama (1996 Alabama Heart Facts, American Heart Association, 1997). Direct and indirect factors (dietary intake, lifestyle, social habits, and physical inactivity) are linked to the high prevalence of CVD, cancer, diabetes and other chronic diseases. In minority populations the prevalence of these diseases is extremely high.
The Health Education Initiatives Impacting
Underserved Populations project was designed to address some of
the health education needs of these high risk, underserved audiences.
Specific objectives are to: 1) reduce risk factors of chronic
diseases and promote changes to support healthier life-styles,
2) promote survival skills for the underserved populations of
urban/rural communities through collaborative involvement of the
State Health Department, State Human Resources, health care professionals,
and allied health agencies, and 3) increase knowledge on how to
make healthier food choices and to use pharmaceuticals appropriately.
