LIVE: A Community-Based Intervention to Reduce CVD Risk Factors in Rural Community-Dwelling African Americans

ABSTRACT

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in Americans. Rural African American (AA) adults are disproportionately affected by CVD—a disease whose risk can be mitigated by a healthy diet and regular physical activity. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Living in Victory Everyday (LIVE) Program, a 3-month community-based nutrition and physical activity intervention. Methods: Forty rural AA adults (age range: 35–80; 2 men, 38 women) at risk for CVD from the Black Belt region of Alabama enrolled in the program. Thirty-four of the 40 participants completed both pre and post health and functional appraisals and surveys, which included questions about fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, quality of life, and demographic items. Results: Postintervention results indicated significant balance improvements in the right and left legs. Additionally, participants’ daily fruit and vegetable consumption, healthy food selection, quality of life, and weekly physical activity improved. Translation to Health Education Practice: Findings from this study can provide rural practitioners with a framework for group-based lifestyle behavior interventions aimed at reducing CVD risk factors among AA adults.

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the contributions and assistance of Frances Ford; Sowing Seeds of Hope; Katrina Easley; Perry County Extension Office; Drs. Samory Pruitt, William Lee, Jamil Akhtar, Edgar Brown, Bobby Merkle, and Seung Eun Jung; Chris Joiner; Rebecca Keating; Ladetric Bentley; Natalie Haffner; Lauren Woodson; Ayumi Davis; Georgiana Logan; Antonio Gardner; Theresa Mince; and Shawn Verbeten.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by The University of Alabama’s Division of Community Affairs. The study was funded by the University of Alabama’s Center for Community-Based Partnerships.