Development and feasibility of a community-partnered nutrition intervention targeting rural migrant communities in the Dominican Republic.
Research on health initiatives for rural batey communities in the Dominican Republic is needed.



This study utilized a pretest-posttest design to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a nutritional intervention targeting rural migrant sugarcane families. Participants (N = 310) were primarily female (61%) and ranged in age from 13 to 64 years (M = 25.9; SD = 10.4). A convenience sample was recruited from six rural bateyes in the southern region of the Dominican Republic.



The intervention was developed for the target population in partnership with a grass-roots organization. The intervention consisted of a short video in the participant's preferred language (Spanish or Creole) describing the importance of consuming a diverse diet. Participants then completed an interactive meal-planning activity to enhance skills learned in the video. The main outcome variable was knowledge and a secondary outcome was participants' performance on the interactive activity.



Results showed that the intervention was well received by the target population and participants demonstrated a significant increase in nutrition knowledge (p < .001). Higher postintervention knowledge scores were positively correlated with higher activity skills scores.



This novel intervention may have promise as a practical program to enhance the nutritional status of a vulnerable population of migrant sugarcane workers.
Division of Behavioral Health, Children's Hospital & Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
Genevieve
0000-0002-2758-1357
G
Maliszewski
Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
Maithe
M
Enriquez
Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.
An-Lin
AL
Cheng
Dominican Republic Medical Partnership, Prairie Village, KS, USA.
Pamela
P
Logan
Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.
Jennifer
J
Watts
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology; D004293:Dominican Republic; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
Dominican Republic; health education; nutrition