title: Church-based health promotion interventions: evidence and lessons learned.
abstract: Church-based health promotion (CBHP) interventions can reach broad populations and have great potential for reducing health disparities. From a socioecological perspective, churches and other religious organizations can influence members' behaviors at multiple levels of change. Formative research is essential to determine appropriate strategies and messages for diverse groups and denominations. A collaborative partnership approach utilizing principles of community-based participatory research, and involving churches in program design and delivery, is essential for recruitment, participation, and sustainability. For African Americans, health interventions that incorporate spiritual and cultural contextualization have been effective. Evidence indicates that CBHP programs have produced significant impacts on a variety of health behaviors. Key elements of CBHP are described with illustrations from the authors' research projects.
authors.affiliation: UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7461. USA. MarciCampbell@unc.edu
authors.forename: Marci Kramish
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Marlyn Allicock
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Resnicow
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Blakeney
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paxton
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baskin
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education; D018672:Community Health Planning; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors