Neighborhood-level social determinants of health and cardioprotective behaviors among church members in New Orleans, Louisiana.

BACKGROUND: Favorable neighborhood-level social determinants of health (SDoH) are associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk. Less is known about their influence on cardioprotective behaviors. We evaluated the associations between neighborhood-level SDoH and cardioprotective behaviors among church members in Louisiana. METHODS: Participants were surveyed between November 2021 to February 2022, and were asked about health behaviors, aspects of their neighborhood, and home address (to link to census tract and corresponding social deprivation index [SDI] data). Logistic regression models were used to assess the relation of neighborhood factors with the likelihood of engaging in cardioprotective behaviors: 1) a composite of healthy lifestyle behaviors [fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and a tobacco/nicotine-free lifestyle], 2) medication adherence, and 3) receipt of routine medical care within the past year. RESULTS: Participants (n = 302, mean age: 63 years, 77% female, 99% Black) were recruited from 12 churches in New Orleans. After adjusting for demographic and clinical factors, perceived neighborhood walkability or conduciveness to exercise (odds ratio [OR]=1.25; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.53), availability of fruits and vegetables (OR=1.23; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.42), and social cohesion (OR=1.55; 95% CI: 1.22, 1.97) were positively associated with the composite of healthy lifestyle behaviors. After multivariable adjustment, SDI was in the direction of association with all three cardioprotective behavior outcomes, but associations were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In this predominantly Black, church-based population, neighborhood-level SDoH including the availability of fruits and vegetables, walkability or conduciveness to exercise, and social cohesion were associated with cardioprotective behaviors. Findings reiterate the need to address adverse neighborhood-level SDoH in the design and implementation of health interventions.

The Breast-Cancer Education and Wellness (BE Well) Intervention: Congregants' Intended Participation, Actual Participation, and Perceived Health Outcomes.

Objective. To evaluate a health leader-focused church-based breast cancer prevention intervention in relation to congregants' intended participation, congregants' actual participation, and perceived health outcomes at both individual and church levels using socio-ecological and theory of planned behavior frameworks. Method. Participants for the study were African American adults (n = 52) from six churches in a North Florida county involved in implementing the 9-month, three-phase intervention. Using a pre/post without comparison group design, data were collected via self-administered surveys and analyzed using qualitative and quantitative (descriptive, analysis of variance, linear regression) procedures. Results. There was general alignment between congregants' intended and actual participation when analyzed by content, especially in the areas of food and nutrition and health education. Regarding the number of intended versus actual activities, there was a significant, negative change in physical activity, a slight decline in health education activities, but a slight increase in food and nutrition activities. No significant relationships were found between extent of participation and the individual health outcomes (health ratings, health status), but significant relationships were found between extent of participation and church health outcomes (perceived role of church in improving health, p < .001; perceived role of the pastor in improving health, p < .001). Conclusions. The findings demonstrate that (1) congregants may follow through and participate in church-based health activities in which they express interest and that are made available and (2) the extent of their participation may be influenced by the perceived role of both the church and the pastor in improving their health.