[Diversity of the local voluntary associations' involvement in cardiovascular disease prevention and health promotion programmes with respect to their mission].
The participation of institutions and organizations from outside the health sector such as self-governments, schools and non-governmental organizations in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and health promotion programmes has been growing. In the context of the significant contributing of the socioeconomic status into health the involvement of social service institutions and organizations in these programmes should be regarded as vital for their efficiency and effectiveness. The article attempts to identify the factors which explain the differences in the level of involvement in the CVD prevention and health promotion programmes between organizations which have the mission to improve the health of community and these ones which are orientated towards the delivery of social services. Data for the analysis are taken from the study which covered 1333 local voluntary associations with various missions. They were collected by means of mail questionnaire. The findings of the study show that organizations with the mission--"helping needy people" are involved in unformalized preventive activities towards CVD risk factors, like cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, the lack of skills to cope with stress, unhealthy diet and low physical activity, to the similar extent as organizations with "health improvement" as a leading aim. However the participation of both types of associations in comprehensive CVD prevention and health promotion programmes is significantly different. The analysis of the factors which determine the participation in such programmes did not allow to indicate "objective" conditions explaining this difference. However there are some premises which direct the attention towards the factors "subjective" by their nature. The results show that the barriers of social service organizations' involvement in CVD prevention and health promotion programmes lie probably in the specific mentality of their active members.
Lignowska
Izabella
I
Zakład Epidemiologii, Prewencji Chorób Układu Krazenia i Promocji Zdrowia, Instytutu Kardiologii w Warszawie. ilignowska@ikard.pl
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D011044:Poland; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D035141:Voluntary Programs