Are We Our Brother’s Keeper?

Project Title

Are We Our Brother’s Keeper?

Funding Dates

9/2007-5/2010

Description

Are We Our Brother’s Keeper? was an intervention study to improve the health of Black men living in northern Orange County. Specifically, it was a program for Black men in church congregations to serve as “Navigators” for men who have heart disease or have had a stroke.

The purpose of the study was to learn about ways to collaborate with African-American churches in northern Orange County to improve men’s health. The intervention (1) documented the cultural tools of 26 rural African-American churches’ sacred role and their associations with the secular role of providing service to benefit men; (2) identified and described interruptions or deviations from the standard course of cardiovascular disease (CVD) screening, care, and perceived reasons from the men’s points of view; and (3) compared men’s adherence to CVD care between intervention and comparison churches, before and after piloting 4 church-based Navigator protocols in partnership with a health department nurse.

Research Areas 

Cardiovascular Health, Obesity, and Diabetes
Health Equity
Additional Topics

Principal Investigator

Eugenia Eng, MPH, DrPH

Funding

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLI); National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD)