title: Evaluation of the community-based chronic disease prevention program Meta Salud in Northern Mexico, 2011-2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Meta Salud is a community health worker-facilitated intervention in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, and was adapted from Pasos Adelante, a similar evidence-based intervention developed for a Latino population in the United States-Mexico border region. The objective of this study was to examine outcomes for Meta Salud and compare them with outcomes for Pasos Adelante.
  
  
  METHODS
  This pretest-posttest study took place during 13 weeks among low-income residents of an urban area. The program provided information on topics such as heart health, physical activity, nutrition, diabetes, healthy weight, community health, and emotional well-being; included individual and group activities aimed at motivating behavior change; and encouraged participants to engage in brisk physical activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found significant decreases from baseline to conclusion in body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, weight, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. From baseline to 3-month follow-up, we found significant decreases in body mass index, waist circumference, weight, LDL cholesterol, and glucose, and an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Outcomes for Meta Salud were similar to those found for Pasos Adelante.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The physiological improvements found among participants in Meta Salud and comparable changes among participants in Pasos Adelante suggest a scalable and effective behavioral intervention for regions of the United States and Mexico that share a common boundary or have similar cultural and linguistic characteristics.
authors.affiliation: El Colegio de Sonora, Av Obregón #54, Colonia Centro, Hermosillo, Sonora, México 83000. E-mail: cdenman@colson.edu.mx.
authors.forename: Catalina A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Denman
authors.affiliation: Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosales
authors.affiliation: El Colegio de Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
authors.forename: Elsa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cornejo
authors.affiliation: Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: Melanie L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: El Colegio de Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Munguía
authors.affiliation: Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: Tanyha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zepeda
authors.affiliation: Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carvajal
authors.affiliation: Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guernsey de Zapien
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003150:Community Health Workers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D011322:Primary Prevention; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology