Culturally and Linguistically Tailored Faith-Based Approach to Community Health Education Among Russian Immigrants

Abstract

CVD-related mortality rates among Russian immigrants are as much as 50 percent higher than U.S. natives. Russian immigrants are religiously and racially homogenous with the U.S. dominant culture, promoting their invisibility in the scientific community. In the last 20 years, the immigrant population has increased from 3.5 percent to 13.9 percent in Charlotte, North Carolina. Immigrants rally around faith-based communities (FBCs) to promote social cohesiveness. Evidence demonstrating benefits of group health education at FBCs is accumulating. Healthy People 2020 includes community-based primary prevention in the areas of nutrition and physical activity (PA) as one of its objectives. A quality improvement (QI) project, in collaboration with a local health department, was developed to introduce nutrition and PA group education into a Russian immigrant FBC. The Neuman Systems Model and the Reach Effectiveness Adoption Implementation and Maintenance framework were utilized for theoretical structure to the project. Based on systematic reviews of multiple randomized controlled trials demonstrating statistically and clinically significant health improvement outcomes, the CDC and IHI have recommended a multi-component and technology-supported community wellness program structure. Incorporating these recommendations, a 3-month program among a volunteer sample in a Russian immigrant FBC was implemented, with monthly group health education, pedometer utilization for PA monitoring, and social media support through private groups on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snap Chat. A Russian version of a WHO-based weight-loss curriculum was utilized. Weight and time engaged in PA per week were collected before and after program implementation. 59 Russian immigrant participants volunteered to take part in the program, with 45 completing the program. Results show that participants had an increase in time spent engaged in PA per week, but had no effect on weight.