Salud de la Mujer:  Community Development

Materials to Increase Health Literacy in a

Latino Community

The primary goals of this project are to increase the health literacy and knowledge of health resources for women and families in a predominately Latino community.

The purpose of this community-based participatory research (CBPR) study was to develop three distinct fotonovelas, a popular media style that tells a story with pictures, to improve health literacy in the areas of 1) Nutrition, 2) Alzheimer's disease, and 3) Depression in seniors for Latinos living in an urban environment.

Partners:

• Center for Healthy Communities & Research, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin
• United Community Center (UCC)

Goals of the Program:

• Assess community needs and select a health topic for educational materials
• Conduct formative evaluation of informational materials; revise materials based on evaluation findings
• Disseminate revised informational materials and conduct summative evaluation

Background: 

Low and limited health literacy is associated with lower levels of preventative care and higher levels of chronic disease.  These issues may especially exist for Latios because of multiple barriers.

Project Period:

• July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2011

Funding Source:

• Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program

Program Contacts: 

David Nelson

Michele Leininger