Erschienen in:
22.08.2015 | Original Paper
Disease Messaging in Churches: Implications for Health in African-American Communities
verfasst von:
Brook E. Harmon, Marci Chock, Elizabeth Brantley, Michael D. Wirth, James R. Hébert
Erschienen in:
Journal of Religion and Health
|
Ausgabe 4/2016
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Abstract
Using the right messaging strategies, churches can help promote behavior change. Frequencies of disease-specific messages in 21 African-American churches were compared to overall and cancer-specific mortality and morbidity rates as well as church-level variables. Disease messages were found in 1025 of 2166 items. Frequently referenced topics included cancer (n = 316), mental health conditions (n = 253), heart disease (n = 246), and infectious diseases (n = 220). Messages for lung and colorectal cancers appeared at low frequency despite high mortality rates in African-American communities. Season, church size, and denomination showed significant associations with health messages. Next steps include testing messaging strategies aimed at improving the health of churchgoing communities.