A Content Analysis of Health Promotion Topics Selected by an Old Order Mennonite Community

Abstract

In the United States, population growth in the Anabaptists has increased in the past 60 years, and Kentucky is one of the few southern states with a significant Plain Anabaptist population. One Old Order Mennonite community in south central Kentucky has hosted monthly health promotion days for over 18 years in partnership with a university. Using a community-based participatory model, community members identify the health promotion topic (HPT) of interest each month and the academic partners seek an appropriate speaker to lead a discussion on the selected topic. Using a qualitative design with content analysis, four researchers examined each HPT for frequency and categorization. The health promotion topic categories included communicable disease, health lifestyle practices, mental health conditions, navigating the health care system, self-care for illness or injury, and quest for medical knowledge.