Do empowerment strategies facilitate knowledge and behavioral change? The impact of family health advocacy on health outcomes.

This study evaluates the impact of a Family Health Advocacy (FHA) intervention on 46 African American women ages 13 to 35 living in a rural southern community. FHA utilizes empowerment strategies to provide education and social support to reduce risk factors for poor pregnancy outcomes. Use of a paired t test demonstrated a statistically significant difference between pretest and posttest scores in the acquisition of knowledge of safer sex practices, alcohol consumption, early prenatal care, maternal infection, and nutrition.

Autism and the African American community.

It is estimated that autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affect 1 in 500 live births per year. However, due to varying techniques for diagnosis and treatment, the disability remains the subject of debate. African Americans tend to suffer disproportionate rates of disability and disease when compared to other racial and ethnic groups due to access to preventative and curative care.

Lives deferred? Exploring social disconnection and perceived quality of life among young adults residing in a long-term care facility.

This qualitative study explores the perceptions of young adults concerning their experiences in a long-term care facility. Qualitative data were gathered via 15 intensive semistructured interviews with participants ages 18-45. Three dominant themes emerged: (a) social and family disengagement, (b) nonstimulating activities, (c) inadequate finances, and (d) the nature of resident/staff relations.

African-American women's conceptualizations of health disparities: a community-based participatory research approach.

Health disparities among African-American families represent a significant social problem. Nationally, African-American infants have dramatically worse birth outcomes than other racial and ethnic groups. A Community-Based Participatory Research approach was utilized to engage community residents.

Family health advocacy: an empowerment model for pregnant and parenting African American women in rural communities.

The model of family health advocacy built firmly upon principles of empowerment theory seeks to help individuals, families, and communities to improve their circumstances by incorporating multiple levels of intervention. The goal of family health advocacy is to improve the well-being of pregnant women and mothers of children younger than 2 years by providing social support and health education about risk factors related to infant mortality and prematurity. This program primarily targets rural African American women, a group at high risk.