Prevention of hypertension and diabetes in an urban setting in South Africa: Participatory action research with community health workers

dc.contributor.authorBradley, Hazel A.
dc.contributor.authorPuoane, Thandi
dc.date.accessioned2010-12-10T08:49:28Z
dc.date.available2010-12-10T08:49:28Z
dc.date.issued2007
dc.description.abstractThe project aimed to identify factors that contribute to hypertension and diabetes and to design and implement appropriate local interventions to prevent these non-communicable diseases and promote healthy lifestyles. This was a community-based participatory action research project in which researchers and community health workers (CHWs) were the main participants. The triple A approach to planning interventions was used, that is, the process of assessing the situation, analyzing the findings, and taking action based on this analysis. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed. Twenty-two CHWs working in site C, Khayelitsha, a deprived urban area of Cape Town, South Africa, participated in the study. Findings from the situational assessment indicated a lack of knowledge among CHWs and the community about hypertension and diabetes and the risk factors for these non-communicable diseases. Economic constraints and cultural beliefs and practices influenced the community’s food choices and participation in physical activity. On the basis of these findings, a training program was proposed that would provide CHWs with the skills to prevent hypertension and diabetes in their community. A program was developed and piloted by the project team. A health club that focuses on promoting healthy lifestyles is currently being piloted. This paper illustrates the unique involvement of CHWs in a successful participatory action research project on the prevention of hypertension and diabetes and promotion of health in a deprived urban setting. The project emphasizes the importance of involving local people in community-based initiatives to promote health and identifies that the primary role of health services is to develop appropriate skills in the local community, monitor activities, and facilitate a link with primary health services.en_US
dc.identifier.citationBradley H. & Puoane, T. (2007). Prevention of hypertension and diabetes in an urban setting in South Africa: Participatory action research with community health workers. Ethnicity and Disease, 17: 49-51en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10566/182
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.privacy.showsubmittertrue
dc.publisherInternational Society on Hypertension in Blacksen_US
dc.rightsCopyright International Society on Hypertension in Blacks. Permission granted to reproduce the article in the Repository. Non-commercial use of this material is permitted, subject to acknowledgment of the source
dc.status.ispeerreviewedtrue
dc.subjectCommunity health workersen_US
dc.subjectDiabetesen_US
dc.subjectHypertensionen_US
dc.subjectNon-communicable diseaseen_US
dc.subjectParticipatory action researchen_US
dc.subjectPreventionen_US
dc.subjectWestern Capeen_US
dc.titlePrevention of hypertension and diabetes in an urban setting in South Africa: Participatory action research with community health workersen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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