Abstract 03: Partnering in Negating Statistics for Black Women: A Women's Community Wellness Initiative

Abstract

Background: Black Americans have the highest rate of mortality from chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes) among all non-indigenous races and ethnicities. Higher attainment of ideal cardiovascular health (CVH), as indicated by AHA’s Life’s Simple 7 (LS7; glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, diet, physical activity, smoking), and Life’s Essential 8 metrics (LE8: LS7 + sleep duration) is associated with a lower risk of mortality from chronic disease among all races and ethnicities. About 70% of health outcomes are influenced by social determinants of health (SDoH) and lifestyle behaviors. Unfortunately, Black American women are more likely to be negatively impacted by SDoH and less likely to engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors than their White counterparts. The Partnering in Negating Statistics (P.I.N.S.) for Black Women Initiative began in 2021 to educate, provide access to resources, and partner in science toward promoting health and wellness among Black women. Herein described is the commencement of the P.I.N.S. Initiative through community-based wellness events and community-dwelling Black women’s attainment of LS7 and LE8. Methods: The P.I.N.S. Initiative capitalized on engagement of academic-community-government partnerships to plan and implement community-based wellness events for Black women. Large signature events boasted opportunities to participate in education, screenings (e.g., mammograms, pap smears, and LS7/LE8 screening), and research. In addition to capture of screening data, event feasibility was assessed via a program evaluation at signature events in August 2021 and 2022. Descriptive statistics (quantitative data) and thematic content analysis (qualitative data) were performed. Results: Community-based wellness events boasted high feasibility in the areas of demand and acceptability. Five hundred Black women attended the events, completing a total of 30 mammograms, 24 pap smears, and 418 biometric screenings. Of women with complete LS7 (N = 123) and LE8 (N = 63) data, the median [interquartile range] LS7 and LE8 scores were 8 [7-10] on a 0-14 scale and 63 [54, 73] on a 0-100 scale. From evaluations (N = 111), attendees (20-74 years old) were well educated (66% with a college degree) and mostly un-partnered (57%). Largely, women heard about our event through family, friends, and community partners. Women were very to extremely satisfied with wellness content (82%) and the program overall (85%). Respondents found value in community engagement and reported the need for an annual event. Conclusion: The P.I.N.S. Initiative is a feasible avenue to engage Black women with largely intermediate cardiovascular health in wellness-focused services. This initiative provides a modifiable framework for further research toward identifying interventions to promote ideal CVH and equitable cardiovascular outcomes.