Paper
Saturday, 22 July 2006
This presentation is part of : Indigenous People's Health Issues
Establishing the Wellness Ministry: A Collaborative Health Initiative Realized
Bridget K. Robinson, MSN, RN, RRT, Adult Health Nursing, University of South Alabama College of Nursing, Mobile, AL, USA
Learning Objective #1: use research findings, identified societal needs, and evidence-based data to make recommendations for health promotion in rural areas.
Learning Objective #2: discuss the impact of the health disparity of obesity on individuals living with chronic illnesses.
Abstract: According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (2002) African Americans between the ages of 20-74 were 65.2% more likely to suffer from obesity. The CDC also reports that 16 percent (over 9 million young people) of children and teens aged 6–19 years are considered overweight. The above statistics are supported by research that also suggests a more rapid rise in the rate of obesity among individuals that reside in rural areas. Obesity increases the risk of a great variety of serious diseases including heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and psychosocial disorders. In this age of over stressed, over worked, and over eating Americans; society must focus on efforts which promote health for the entire family. The small congregation of St. John African Methodist Episcopal(AME) Church in Kushla, Alabama has approximately 100 members and over 20% of them suffer from obesity and either diabetes or hypertension. A very simple health initiative centered on increasing activity and dietary awareness was implemented within this congregation in an effort to facilitate a shift in the paradigm of the communities’ health attitude. This observational research project outlines the initial setup and follows the progress of the Wellness Ministry in the St. John AME church in rural Mobile County.

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