Policy, systems, and environmental change in the Mississippi Delta: considerations for evaluation design.

Community-level policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change strategies may offer an economical and sustainable approach to chronic disease prevention. The rapidly growing number of untested but promising PSE strategies currently underway offers an exciting opportunity to establish practice-based evidence for this approach. This article presents lessons learned from an evaluation of a community-based PSE initiative targeting stroke and cardiovascular disease prevention in the Mississippi Delta.

Parental depression, family functioning, and obesity among African American children.

Obesity has reached an epidemic level in America (National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS] 1999), and this epidemic is more acute for African Americans than for other groups ofAmericans. In this study, 44 parent-child dyads completed measurements of height, weight, depression, and body fat composition. In addition, parents completed a demographic questionnaire, and instruments, which measured family functioning, parental psychopathology, child behavior, and cardiovascular risks.

Parental depression, family functioning, and obesity among African American children.

Obesity has reached an epidemic level in America (National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS] 1999), and this epidemic is more acute for African Americans than for other groups of Americans. In this study, 44 parent-child dyads completed measurements of height, weight, depression, and body fat composition. In addition, parents completed a demographic questionnaire, and instruments, which measured family functioning, parental psychopathology, child behavior, and cardiovascular risks.

A focus group study of African-American obese children in Mississippi.

Obesity is at epidemic levels in the United States and other western countries. Ethnic minority children are disproportionately affected. The purposes of this study are to provide a framework for conducting focus group studies and to inform regarding the experiences of overweight AA children.

A depression preventive intervention for rural low-income African-American pregnant women at risk for postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major health problem for many women, including rural low-income African-American women. Researchers have documented the long lasting consequences of PPD. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the initial acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of the ROSE Program, a brief, interpersonally-based intervention in a group of low-income, rural African-American pregnant women at risk for PPD.

Parental depression, family functioning and obesity among African American children.

Obesity has reached an epidemic level in America (National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS] 1999), and this epidemic is more acute for African Americans than for other groups of Americans. In this study, 44 parent-child dyads completed measurements of height, depression, and body fat composition. In addition, parents completed a demographic questionnaire, and instruments, which measured family functioning, parental psychopathology, child behavior, and cardiovascular risks.

Parental depression, family functioning and obesity among African American children.

Obesity has reached an epidemic level in America (National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS] 1999), and this epidemic is more acute for African Americans than for other groups of Americans. In this study, 44 parent-child dyads completed measurements of height, depression, and body fat composition. In addition, parents completed a demographic questionnaire, and instruments, which measured family functioning, parental psychopathology, child behavior, and cardiovascular risks.

Acceptance of HIV testing among African-American college students at a historically black university in the south.

Purpose: Routine HIV testing on college campuses has the potential to increase students' awareness of their HIV status. Testing targeted only at persons reporting HIV risk behaviors will not identify infected persons who may deny or be unaware of their risk. Thus, this study sought to investigate the acceptability of rapid HIV testing among African-American college students in a nontraditional setting on a historically black college/university (HBCU) campus.

Childhood obesity reduction by school based programs.

Childhood obesity has become one of the most common health problems facing children in America. Results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reveal that ethnic minority children in the United States are at particular risk for development of cardiovascular disease due to their disproportionate levels of obesity. In treating childhood obesity among ethnic minorities, practitioners need to be mindful of the cultural norms surrounding body size.

Assessing cardiovascular risk in children: the Jackson, Mississippi CRRIC Study.

According to the NHANES III study, obesity, a cardiovascular risk factor, is now an epidemic in the United States. An estimated 97 million adults and one in five children between 6 and 17 are overweight. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among a group of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders at two randomly chosen elementary schools in Jackson, Mississippi.