Objective: Research on health initiatives for rural batey communities in the Dominican Republic is needed. Design and Sample: This study utilized a pretest-posttest design to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a nutritional intervention targeting rural migrant sugarcane families. Participants (N = 310) were primarily female (61%) and ranged in age from 13 to 64 years (M = 25.9; SD = 10.4). A convenience sample was recruited from six rural bateyes in the southern region of the Dominican Republic. Intervention: The intervention was developed for the target population in partnership with a grass-roots organization. The intervention consisted of a short video in the participant's preferred language (Spanish or Creole) describing the importance of consuming a diverse diet. Participants then completed an interactive meal-planning activity to enhance skills learned in the video. The main outcome variable was knowledge and a secondary outcome was participants’ performance on the interactive activity. Results: Results showed that the intervention was well received by the target population and participants demonstrated a significant increase in nutrition knowledge (p <.001). Higher postintervention knowledge scores were positively correlated with higher activity skills scores. Conclusion: This novel intervention may have promise as a practical program to enhance the nutritional status of a vulnerable population of migrant sugarcane workers. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Health education Dominican Republic nutrition

education vulnerable population videorecording pretest posttest design convenience sample Community Health Services community care human middle aged statistics and numerical data rural population diet nonhuman language Feasibility Studies sugarcane program development Dominican Republic family study Young Adult Humans migrant psychology Adolescent worker male female Nutritional Sciences Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice feasibility study organization and management program evaluation adult major clinical study migration health education outcome variable skill Transients and Migrants nutritional science nutritional status attitude to health grass