Introduction:
South Asians have a higher death rate than any other population for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and high blood pressure (HBP). San Joaquin has a growing rate of South Asians immigrants who may be at risk for CVD.
Objectives:
Trainees conducted hypertension and CVD screenings at South Asians religious organizations to reduce the risk of CVD and spread awareness about the factors that lead to CVD and its implications in the South Asians population due to environmental racism in the most underserved county for health care, San Joaquin.
Methods:
I trained low-income minority high school students to conduct weekly blood pressure screenings and serve as a health technology coach by each student monitoring 2 hypertensive patients of 48 hypertensive or at risk hypertensive and low-income San Joaquin residents and constantly stressed, and at risk for CVD. CVD screenings were conducted at all San Joaquin gurdwaras and mosques to spread awareness about heart health and track hypertension in the South Asians community.
Findings:
-61.7% of the South Asian population of San Joaquin are at risk for CVD
-3.3% of the South Asian population of San Joaquin are hypotensive
-28.6% of the South Asian population of San Joaquin are Stage 1 hypertensive
-29.7% of the South Asian population of San Joaquin are Stage 2 hypertensive
-38.3% of the South Asian population of San Joaquin have normal blood pressure but consume red meat more than 4 times a month
Direct Outcomes of Events:
-Development of self-advocacy in the South Asian community. Community members became activists for their own heart health.
-Increased participation of youth, in an otherwise adult dominant environment (i.e. the mosques and gurdwaras).
-Increased awareness of CVD, hypertension, hypotension, and periodontal disease (PD) among the South Asian community.
-Increased participation by youth and adults on activities such as games, challenges and information booths dispensing awareness on CVD and PD.
-Increased interaction between community members of different religions, creed, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
-Awareness, education among the South Asian community for better heart and oral health
-Diagnoses and referrals of suspected cases of hypertension and CVD
-Improved patient-provider trust
-San Joaquin high school students trained for community outreach events and determined to address CVD.
-Youth learned the value of empathy, multiculturalism, and service to disadvantaged communities through the program and volunteering.
Intervening to change the diets of low-income women
