NEEMA: a school-based diabetes risk prevention program designed for African-American children.
OBJECTIVE
To conduct formative assessment and preliminary biological impact of a school-based diabetes risk prevention program for African-American children during a 14-week study.


METHODS
NEEMA is a school-based diabetes prevention program tailored for African-American children. The NEEMA is implemented via four social networks-classroom (Health and Physical Education Class), after school (Health Club), home (Family Fun Fair) and school cafeteria (Food Service Program). Formative assessment data were collected through semistructured interviews with physical education (PE) teachers and a pre-to-post design was used to measure biological impact. Fasting capillary glucose, height, weight, body mass index, percent body fat and fitness data were collected from a sample of 58 fourth-grade students. The six elementary schools had > 40% African-American enrollment and were located in low-income neighborhoods.


RESULTS
Face-to-face interview data revealed diabetes, obesity and food insufficiency as major health concerns among PE teachers. Teachers also cited large classes and short PE periods as major challenges for implementing the program. From baseline to follow-up, fitness laps increased from 16.40 (SD = 9.98) to 23.72 (SD = 14.79) (p < 0.000), fasting capillary glucose decreased from 89.17 mg/dl (SD = 10.05) to 83.50 mg/dl (SD = 11.26) (p < 0.000), and percent body fat decreased from 27.26 (SD=12.89) to 26.68 (SD = 11.67) (p < 0.537).


CONCLUSIONS
The NEEMA pilot study provided teacher feedback useful for revising the NEEMA health curricula and positive preliminary impact of the NEEMA PE class on children's fitness and blood glucose levels.
Shaw-Perry
Mary
M
Department of Applied Health Science, School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47401, USA. mdperry@indiana.edu
Horner
Charlotte
C
Treviño
Roberto P
RP
Sosa
Erica T
ET
Hernandez
Irene
I
Bhardwaj
Abhishek
A
D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education*; D002648:Child; D003479:Curriculum; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students; D013781:Texas; D014481:United States