Abstract
Unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity along with lack of access to quality healthcare contribute to the marked health disparities in chronic diseases among African–Americans. Faith-based public health conferences offer a potential opportunity to improve health literacy and change health behaviors through health promotion within this population, thereby reducing health disparities. This study examined the self-reported health behaviors and preventive healthcare utilization patterns of 77 participants at a predominantly African–American faith-based public health conference, Healthy Churches 2020. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to a sample of attendees to assess their health behaviors (diet and physical activity), preventive healthcare utilization (annual healthcare provider visits), and health-promoting activities at their places of worship. The results indicate that attendees of a faith-based public health conference have adequate preventive healthcare utilization, but suboptimal healthy behaviors. Our findings support the need for ongoing health-promoting activities with an emphasis on diet and physical activity among this population.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2538-2551 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Journal of Religion and Health |
Volume | 57 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 2018 |
Keywords
- African–American churches
- Clergy
- Faith-based organizations
- Health behaviors
- Health disparities
- Health ministries
- Health promotion
- Healthcare utilization
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Nursing
- Religious studies