Development and Implementation of a Culturally and Linguistically Centered Nutrition Education Program for Promotoras de Salud (Community Health Workers) to Foster Community Health Education and Outreach in Texas Border Colonias

Abstract

Promotora Nutrition Empowerment Initiative (PNEI) was developed in response to requests by 7 promotora-researchers in the Construyendo Communidades Fronterizas Mas Sanas (Building Healthier Border Communities) research and outreach program to better equip them in the Texas border colonias they serve. This effort provided a framework for evidence-based, culturally and linguistically centered nutrition education and skill-building modules. Eight educational workshops (4 hours per month) comprised of in-depth nutrition education and skill-building lessons were conducted (December 2012–July 2013). Student’s paired sample t test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test compared pre- and posttest nutrition knowledge scores for each workshop; scores were significantly improved (P = .02). Medial assessment focus group analysis suggested that nutrition education workshops provided worth, impact, and empowerment. Results suggest that collaborative community efforts involving promotoras/community health workers empower and allow for greater opportunities for outreach and delivery of evidence-based community health education to hard-to-reach residents.