A qualitative first look at the Arts for Behavior Change Program: Theater for Health

Abstract

This article reports on the process outcomes of the first pilot project of the Arts for Behavior Change (ABC) Program, held in two neighboring shantytowns in Lima, Perú. The ABC Program improved health literacy through the arts to empower communities to identify and adopt healthy behaviors. The ABC Program created Theater for Health, a new approach that integrates theories and practices from the Theater of the Oppressed family of methods with the best practices of health literacy and an evidence-based approach to health. Preliminary findings show a high level of community engagement and empowerment, and intention to change hygiene practices.

Keywords::

• health literacy
• Theater for Health
• social change
• prevention
• community empowerment
• household hygiene
• behavior change

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr Kelly Reynolds from the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. We also wish to thank our artistic and scientific collaborators in Lima, Perú, especially Instituto de Investigación Nutricional, the artists of Kallpa and Dr Jose Maria Viñoles. We particularly want to express our gratitude for their generosity of spirit, investment of time and their interest in this program to the community leadership and residents of the communities with whom we were fortunate to collaborate. Finally, we wish to thank our colleagues at the Canyon Ranch Institute in Tucson, AZ and the Boston University College of Fine Arts.

Notes

^1. Email: [email protected]

^2. Email: [email protected]

^3. Email: [email protected]

Additional materials that illustrate the implementation of this program can be found at http://canyonranchinstitute.org/partnerships-a-programs/programs/arts-for-behavior-change. An introductory video on the ABC Program in Lima and Theater for Health may be found online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWWZCGpQt34

Additional information

Funding

We wish to express our sincere thanks to our colleagues Suzanne Thompson, Dr Elias Shaheen, Tomas Colussi, Ricardo Leon and Dr Marcela Soto from our funding partner, the Clorox Company.