Using Community Based Research Frameworks to Develop and Implement a Church-Based Program to Prevent Diabetes and Its Complications for Samoan Communities in South Western Sydney

Bibliographic Data

ID15510097
AuthorsDorothy W Ndwiga (0000-0003-0940-3116, New South Wales Institute of Psychiatry, corresponding author), Kate A McBride (0000-0002-6939-4648, Translational Research Institute), David Simmons (0000-0003-0560-0761, Translational Research Institute), Ronda Thompson (0009-0003-1721-8049, Western Sydney University), Jennifer Reath (0000-0002-0676-4402, Translational Research Institute), Penelope Abbott (0000-0003-4865-4823, Translational Research Institute), Olataga Alofivae-Doorbinia (IP Australia), Paniani Patu (Blacktown & Mount Druitt Hospital), Annalise T Vaovasa (Western Sydney University), Freya MacMillan (0000-0003-3176-2465, Translational Research Institute, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue17
Pages9385-9385
Publication date2021-09-06
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph18179385
PMID34501974
OpenAlexW3197212129
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited33

Pasifika communities bear a disproportionate burden of diabetes compared to the general Australian population. Community-based participatory research (CBPR), which involves working in partnership with researchers and communities to address local health needs, has gained prominence as a model of working with underserved communities. This paper describes how Le Taeao Afua (LTA) Samoan diabetes prevention program was underpinned by two CBPR frameworks to develop a culturally tailored church-based lifestyle intervention to prevent diabetes and its complications in the Australian Samoan community. The name LTA, which means 'a new dawn,' was chosen by the community to signify a new dawn without diabetes in the Australian Samoan community. Strategies for engaging with the Australian Samoan community in South Western Sydney are discussed mapped to the key principles from the CBPR frameworks. In particular, this paper highlights the steps involved in building relationships with Samoan community leaders and the vital role of community activators and peer support facilitators in the success of delivering the program. Lessons learnt, such as the importance of church and maintaining a Samoan way of life in daily activities, and processes to build effective partnerships and maintain long-term relationships with the Australian Samoan community, are also discussed. Our paper, through providing a case example of how to apply CBPR frameworks, will help guide future community-based health promotion programs for underserved communities

Community-based participatory research · Environmental health · General partnership · Pacific islanders · Participatory action research · Political science · Population · Public relations · Samoan · Sociology · Anthropology · Diabetes Management and Education · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Health Policy Implementation Science · Medicine · Gerontology

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