Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 13, Issue 3, 2011, Pages 629-632

Increasing healthy behaviors in adolescents of mexican heritage in rural emerging Latino communities: Results from a school-based health intervention pilot study (Article)

Villalba J.A. , Amirehsani K. , Lewis T.F.
  • a Department of Counseling and Educational Development, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 221 Curry, Greensboro, NC 27402, United States
  • b School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, United States
  • c Department of Counseling and Educational Development, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 221 Curry, Greensboro, NC 27402, United States

Abstract

The rapid Latino population growth in emerging Latino communities (EmLCs) presents a challenge to health care providers as most current health interventions and health promotion programs intended for Latinas/os are based on characteristics of established Latino communities (EsLCs). This study addresses the gap in the literature by modifying and testing the beginning efficacy of a school-based health intervention for adolescents of Mexican heritage in a rural EmLC. Seventy adolescents of Mexican heritage attending a rural middle school participated in the intervention. Paired samples t-tests were performed to determine differences between healthy behaviors at post-intervention compared to pre-intervention. Significant improvements in participants' physical activity and healthy eating were observed between pre-intervention and post-intervention. A school-based health intervention designed to increase healthy behaviors of adolescents of Mexican heritage in a rural EmLC was successful. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Author Keywords

Mexican Latina/o Schools-based health interventions Rural health Adolescents

Index Keywords

health promotion methodology human Schools North Carolina rural population Risk Reduction Behavior Mexico checklist Hispanic Americans ethnology United States Humans Hispanic Adolescent male female pilot study school Article program evaluation health care quality risk reduction Pilot Projects Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79957491697&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-010-9385-x&partnerID=40&md5=6719809fa8a10b604eaf77bab946be0b
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-010-9385-x
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English