title: Church and spirituality in the lives of the African American community.
abstract: The African American church is held in the highest esteem by most African Americans. Although the influence of the African American church has been underestimated by physicians and nurses, it could be pivotal in optimizing health status among African Americans. Because of this influence, health care practitioners, including nurses, are now recognizing the important role that the African American church plays in improving the health status of individuals in the African American community. This article illuminates the health and health care concerns of the African American community by considering the traditional lack of equal access for this population and the role that the church can play in not only offering church-based health care services but also improving the health status of church congregations. Future roles of the African American church for improved health status are also suggested.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Joyce Newman
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Giger
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Appel
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davidhizar
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D002835:Christianity / Q000523:psychology*; D002977:Clergy; D005544:Forecasting; D006293:Health Promotion; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D010327:Pastoral Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011203:Poverty; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D029181:Spirituality; D016746:Transcultural Nursing; D035502:Trust; D014481:United States