Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community最新文献

This article discusses the findings of a pilot study that assessed the capacity of a digital, self-paced, asynchronous Prevention Specialist Certification Course to prepare an academically diverse group of ten participants to engage in substance misuse prevention activities and to pass the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium's Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) Examination. Conducted in Muncie, Indiana between March and June of 2023, the study expands on previous research exploring the efficacy of curriculum-based prevention training. Results of the study suggest that with an 80% exam pass rate and an 18% improvement between student pre and post test scores, the course successfully achieved its identified goals and should be tested with a larger and more diverse audience to strengthen the findings.

Inequities with access to naloxone and fentanyl test strips (FTS) due to cost and stigma have reinforced the necessity of community-based distribution of lifesaving harm reduction supplies. In Wichita and Sedgwick County, the epicenter of the opioid epidemic in Kansas, Safe Streets Wichita, a grassroots prevention and harm reduction coalition, started Project Wichita Overdose Recovery Kit Expedited Delivery (WORKED), a free volunteer-led intramuscular naloxone and FTS program. To assess the lessons learned from those involved with Project WORKED, interviews with 12 key stakeholders were conducted. These interviews focused on reflection, constructive criticism, and feedback. Individuals interviewed for this study included volunteers, former/current employees, and naloxone and FTS kit recipients, with special considerations for those with lived experiences of substance-related harms. Based on a reflexive thematic analysis, findings highlight the importance of meaningfully engaging community members most affected by substance-related harms, emphasizing a strengths-based perspective of harm reduction, and being cognizant of the barriers that undermine harm reduction supply distribution efforts and harm reduction in general. These findings help serve as the foundation by which interviewees envision a more holistic and comprehensive approach to harm reduction. Findings will be used to inform the fidelity, efficiency, accessibility, and longevity of community-based naloxone and FTS distribution and the implementation of harm reduction strategies in general across the state of Kansas.

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a growing environmental issue associated with negative health outcomes. Yet, there is a dearth of evidence concerning its effect on blood pressure (BP), especially in Ghana. This study examined the associations between ALAN, blood pressure, and hypertension. The study used data from 13,784 participants in the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS). VIIRS Nighttime Day/Night Band dataset within the Google Earth was used to assess ALAN. Data on BP were obtained from the 2014 GDHS. Linear and logistic mixed effects models were used to analyze the data. Findings showed that higher ALAN score was associated with higher systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and higher odds of hypertension. We observed higher percentages of SBP, DBP, and hypertension among the majority ethnic populations compared to the minority. Public health interventions should aim to reduce ALAN exposure to benefit human health.

Substantial increases in drug overdose deaths, the prevailing lack of access to care for substance use disorder, and the adverse effects of stigma and criminalization underlie the need for comprehensive evidence-based strategies that improve the health, safety, and well-being of people who use drugs. Harm reduction has emerged as a promising approach in the mitigation of substance-related harms. However, many harm reduction strategies remain illegal especially in Kansas. Eleven stakeholders, including law enforcement/criminal justice officials, state legislators, and health care professionals were interviewed to explore their perspectives on harm reduction and gather their recommendations Using reflexive thematic analysis, we developed three themes for the first research question (stigma, alternatives to criminalization, and authentic conversations and relationships) and six themes for the second research question (roadmap to a more comprehensive harm reduction, barriers to harm reduction, facilitators to harm reduction, connection of harm reduction to behavioral health reform, social determinants of health, and protection of public safety).

Purpose: To present information on the feasibility and acceptability of a Stroke Champion "train-the-trainer" program, including lessons learned, for dissemination of stroke prevention knowledge and resources among African Americans (AA) residing within the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN metropolitan area.

Design: One arm pre-post-test design.

Methods: Twelve AA "Stroke Champions" were recruited to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an online stroke prevention education curriculum and peer-to-peer education.

Results: We successfully designed, developed, and implemented a stroke prevention education website for community use. All Stroke Champions completed initial training and evaluation, and reported the usefulness and usability of the website., However, they also reported that they needed more facilitation support from our research team to deliver education in the community.

Conclusion: Engaging Stroke Champions is potentially beneficial in increasing stroke prevention knowledge. However, Stroke Champions need more support to effectively engage, educate, and disseminate knowledge among peers.

This is the introduction paper to the first part of the 2-issue series of the Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community with a focused theme on "Cardiovascular diseases and risk factors in the minority and minoritized communities." Beginning with a brief discussion on the disease burden and healthcare cost related to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), this paper offers a quick overview on status and limitation of the existing public health studies that examine the disparities in the risk factors, prevalence, and prevention of CVDs across communities globally and locally. The paper ends with a call for more research to adopt an intersectionality framework and a multiscale lens to study the layered and systemic nature of disparities in CVDs among minority and minoritized communities.

Harm reduction services are critical in reducing the adverse consequences of drug use, but their uptake remains limited among marginalized communities. This qualitative study explored how cultural factors influence engagement with harm reduction services among marginalized communities in the United States. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 participants who had utilized or were familiar with harm reduction services. Grounded theory analysis revealed several key themes: (1) The critical role of cultural respect in messaging to build trust and engagement; (2) The profound influence of cultural norms and expectations on service utilization; (3) The importance of culturally appropriate messaging that resonates with community values and experiences; (4) The need for cultural sensitivity in intervention design and implementation to address access barriers. Findings informed the development of a Cultural Attunement Theory for harm reduction interventions, emphasizing the importance of understanding historical factors contributing to mistrust, leveraging cultural strengths, and co-creating culturally respectful messaging with community members. Recommendations are provided for developing culturally centered harm reduction campaigns to increase access, utilization, and health equity.

This paper explores the experiences of community service providers supporting criminalized women in Atlantic Canada, focusing on issues related to trauma, victimization, substance use, and motherhood. These providers work within community-based organizations, assisting clients as navigating complex systems, including criminal legal, child protection, and social assistance. The women they support often face multiple forms of stigma and structural barriers due to their intersecting identities.

This research examines how service providers understand the interconnectedness of substance use, criminalization, and motherhood in their clients' lives. It emphasizes the potential of trauma-informed and harm reduction approaches to better support criminalized women's health and pregnancies. Service providers act as crucial advocates, often building trust and forming meaningful relationships with their clients.

Using a feminist methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 providers working with criminalized women (who were previously incarcerated or otherwise in conflict with the law) in Atlantic Canada. The transcripts were analyzed using open and focused coding within a sociology of emotions framework. Themes include service providers encounters with their clients' substance use, the complexities of trust and relationship building, and apprehension and role confusion.

The findings highlight the critical role these providers play in de-stigmatizing substance use and supporting pregnancy through harm reduction approaches. The research emphasizes the need for embedding harm reduction strategies within programs for pregnant women who use substances. Additionally, the study underscores the importance of trauma-informed education and resources for service providers to address stigma, blame, and shame through supportive community service provision.

This study contributes to understanding of how community organizations support criminalized women, addressing challenges such as housing, employment, social support, and system navigation. It emphasizes the significance and impact of harm reduction and trauma-informed approaches in provider-client relationships and on effective service delivery.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is common in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults and represents the leading cause of mortality. Risk factors for CVD in AI/AN adults are well-described, and a growing body of evidence reports the inequitable prevalence of factors associated with the development of CVD in AI/AN children, including obesity, physical inactivity, and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Objective: This article organizes and summarizes the evidence describing CVD risk factors in AI/AN children, discusses the social drivers of health impacting these risks, and highlights several programs that have demonstrated effectiveness in improving AI/AN child health.

Results: Fortunately, multiple community- and Tribal-based programs have aimed to mitigate the impact of obesity, diabetes, and physical activity in AI/AN youth, given that nascent CVD begins in the pediatric years. These efforts include screening, lifestyle choices, including diet and exercise, and, importantly, culturally relevant programming to promote cardiovascular health in AI/AN children.

Discussion: Though at a disproportionate risk for CVD based on biological and social drivers of health, AI/AN children are being prioritized by their communities, and there are many ongoing efforts to support their cardiovascular health. However, further investigation and investment is warranted to protect this population and address ongoing disparities in AI/AN CVD.

The Chilean model of economic development, based on the extraction of natural resources, has had significant environmental and social impacts on the country, especially in rural areas. The research project "Towards the construction of sustainable schools and communities in rural areas in socio-environmental crises" studies the interaction between the unregulated exploitation of natural resources, the resulting socio-environmental crises and the responses of schools and communities in the affected rural areas. Based on a documentary and socio-bibliometric approach, identifying the main issues and research gaps related to the socio-environmental crises in the selected territories. The research showed that there are few studies on the role of rural schools and community organizations in the addressing of the socio-environmental crises of the territories and the fostering of long-term educational and community resilience. This reflects the low visibility that these communities are receiving, despite their significant potential on the matter.