Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #215152

Title: Capacity building for health through community based participatory nutrition intervention research in rural communities

Author
item DOWNEY, LAURA - University Of Southern Mississippi
item CUY CASTELLANOS, DIANA - University Of Southern Mississippi
item YADRICK, KATHLEEN - University Of Southern Mississippi
item THREADGILL, PAULA - Mississippi State University
item KENNEDY, BETTY - Pennington Biomedical Research Center
item STRICKLAND, EARLINE - Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Iniative (NIRI)
item PREWITT, T - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item Bogle, Margaret

Submitted to: Family and Community Health
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/21/2010
Publication Date: 6/8/2010
Citation: Downey, L.H., Cuy Castellanos, D., Yadrick, K., Threadgill, P., Kennedy, B., Strickland, E., Prewitt, T.E., Bogle, M.L. 2010. Capacity building for health through community based participatory nutrition intervention research in rural communities. Family and Community Health. 33(3):175-185.

Interpretive Summary: This paper illustrates how two models were used to identify nutritional health related problems, and to develop intervention based on community perceived needs, input, and participation. The low-income, mostly African American communities were willing to use a logic process to identify their health-related problems and to develop interventions aimed toward helping them to begin a process to overcome some of the barriers to better health through walking groups, exercise, and nutrition education. Sustainable strategies were identified and a willingness to continue healthy eating practices and walking programs were positive outcomes shown by the participants.

Technical Abstract: Building community capacity for health promotion in small rural communities is essential if health promotion research is to yield sustainable outcomes. Since its inception, capacity-building has been a stated goal of the Delta Nutrition Intervention Research initiative, a tri-state collaboration in the Lower Mississippi Delta to address high rates of chronic disease through nutrition intervention research. This paper describes capacity-building strategies in three rural Delta communities in the context of community participatory nutrition intervention research. Strategies to build capacity within specific identified dimensions of community capacity include: community participation in every phase of intervention planning, developing adult leadership to coordinate and deliver intervention components, skill development related to health food and physical activity behaviors, investment in community resources such as office and meeting space, formation of community networks and values around health promotion, building a sense of community through collaboration and participation, and critical reflection on community challenges and successes through research conference involving all partners. Incorporating capacity-building approaches in health promotion and nutrition intervention programming in rural communities provides a means to develop community capacity and enchance potential for sustainability of health outcomes and developed effectiveness.