Pulsing bodies and embodying pulse: musical effervescence in a South African HIV/AIDS community outreach program

Background: Health Systems routinely make investments in clinically driven outreach programs to build for future community needs, improve health outcomes, and serve their community mission. Many community sports programs have limited access to sports medicine care, including access to athletic trainers. Hypothesis/Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a clinically integrated Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) Community Sports Outreach Program, by evaluating the outreach into the community, sports clubs, schools, covered events. Methods: The ATC Community Outreach Program monitored key metrics over a 3 and 1/2-year period. Metrics included the partnerships developed with local clubs and schools, number of athletes covered in each organization, games covered and hours spent supporting organizations. Categories were divided into fiscal years (FY) running from September to August. Fiscal Year 2016 was calculated from January – August, as it was the first year of the program. The percentage of growth of the amount of games covered was calculated from the adjacent FY. Results: Over the first 3 and 1/2 years (FY2016-FY2019), the number clubs, schools, programs covered grew from 10, 19, 25, to 31 from FY2016 - FY2019. Number of athletes from 7,363, 12,552, 15,104, to 19,794 from FY2016 - FY2019. The number of community outreach events grew from 6, 11, 57, to 190 from FY2016 - FY2019 (Table/Figure 1.1). The percentage of growth of games covered grew from 183%, 518% to 333% between FY2016 and FY2019. Discussion/Conclusion: Building, maintaining a sports medicine practice is a complex undertaking, and represents a significant investment for the health system and community. In many communities, access to sports medicine care for athletes is very limited. A clinically integrated ATC program can generate a significant impact on the community by building relationships with local sports clubs/schools and improving sports medicine care access to young athletes. Tables/Figures: [Table: see text][Figure: see text]

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HIV/AIDS in South African schools: Neuropsychological and psychoeducational implications

International Journal of School & Educational Psychology ◽

10.1080/21683603.2020.1796124 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 269-278

Author(s):

Kate Cockcroft ◽

Nafisa Cassimjee

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Hiv Aids

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Utilizing Participatory Research to Engage Underserved Populations to Improve Health-Related Outcomes in Delaware

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13072353 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 2353

Author(s):

Shannon M. Robson ◽

Samantha M. Rex ◽

Katie Greenawalt ◽

P. Michael Peterson ◽

Elizabeth Orsega-Smith

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Health Behavior ◽

Health Behaviors ◽

Participatory Research ◽

Cooperative Extension ◽

Underserved Populations ◽

Community Outreach ◽

Outreach Program ◽

Health Related ◽

Improve Health

Cooperative Extension is a community outreach program. Despite its large reach, there is a need for the evaluation of changes in health-related outcomes for individuals engaged with Cooperative Extension. A team-based challenge was developed using community-engaged participatory research integrated with Cooperative Extension to encourage healthy eating and physical activity behaviors through Cooperative Extension programming. Thus, the primary purpose of this secondary analysis was to (1) evaluate changes in anthropometric outcomes and (2) evaluate changes in health behavior outcomes. Associations of anthropometric changes and health behavior changes with engagement in the three-month team-based challenge were explored. Anthropometrics were measured using standard procedures, and intake of fruits and vegetables and physical activity were self-reported. Of the 145 participants in the community-engaged participatory research portion of the study, 52.4% (n = 76) had complete anthropometrics before and after the team-based challenge and were included in this study. At 3 months, there was a significant reduction in body mass index (−0.3 kg/m2, p = 0.024) and no significant change in waist circumference (p = 0.781). Fruit and vegetable intake significantly increased (+0.44 servings/day, p = 0.018). Physical activity did not significantly change based on (1) the number of days 30 or more minutes of physical activity was conducted (p = 0.765) and (2) Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire scores (p = 0.612). Changes in anthropometrics and health behaviors were not associated with engagement in the team-based challenge. Using community-engaged participatory research with community outreach programs, such as Cooperative Extension, can improve health-related outcomes in underserved populations. However, despite a participatory approach, changes in anthropometrics and health behaviors were not associated with engagement in the developed team-based challenge.

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