Bridging the gap in rural African American cardiovascular health: The intersection of nutrition, cultural competency, and preventative interventions
Location
Moultrie, GA
Start Date
7-5-2025 1:00 PM
End Date
7-5-2025 4:00 PM
Description
Introduction Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality in the United States, disproportionately affecting African Americans, particularly those in rural communities. Structural disparities, including limited healthcare access, socioeconomic barriers, and a lack of culturally competent nutritional guidance, exacerbate CVD risk. This study explores the impact of the African Heritage Diet, Culinary Medicine, and Community-based interventions on CVD prevention and management. The research seeks to answer: How do culturally tailored nutrition interventions and community-based health strategies impact CVD prevention and management in rural African American populations?
Methods A systematic literature review was conducted to analyze current research on CVD disparities, nutrition, and intervention strategies. Key areas of investigation included:
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Comparative effectiveness of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet versus the African Heritage Diet.
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Evaluation of culinary medicine as a behavioral intervention in improving dietary adherence and long-term health outcomes.
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Assessment of community-driven programs, including faith-based health initiatives, mobile health clinics, telemedicine, and local agricultural partnerships.
Results & Discussion Findings suggest that nutrition-based interventions incorporating cultural familiarity improve dietary adherence and effectiveness. The African Heritage Diet, rooted in traditional heritage while combining historical dietary patterns, may enhance patient compliance. Culinary medicine interventions further reinforce sustainable dietary behaviors by integrating hands-on, culturally relevant nutrition education.
Additionally, Community-based health programs significantly enhance healthcare accessibility. Faith-based initiatives and mobile health clinics provide trusted, localized care, while telemedicine and food accessibility programs address logistical barriers to health management. Despite these benefits, several challenges persist, including limited rural healthcare infrastructure, the need for culturally competent dietary recommendations, and a lack of large-scale implementation studies.
Conclusion & Future Directions Culturally tailored dietary interventions and community-driven healthcare models show promise in reducing CVD disparities among rural African Americans. Future research should focus on the scalability and long-term sustainability of these interventions. Policy-driven solutions, such as expanding funding for mobile health services and integrating cultural competency training in medical curriculum, are necessary to bridge existing healthcare gaps. Addressing these structural challenges will be critical in improving cardiovascular health outcomes in underserved populations.
Embargo Period
5-20-2025
Bridging the gap in rural African American cardiovascular health: The intersection of nutrition, cultural competency, and preventative interventions
Moultrie, GA
Introduction Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality in the United States, disproportionately affecting African Americans, particularly those in rural communities. Structural disparities, including limited healthcare access, socioeconomic barriers, and a lack of culturally competent nutritional guidance, exacerbate CVD risk. This study explores the impact of the African Heritage Diet, Culinary Medicine, and Community-based interventions on CVD prevention and management. The research seeks to answer: How do culturally tailored nutrition interventions and community-based health strategies impact CVD prevention and management in rural African American populations?
Methods A systematic literature review was conducted to analyze current research on CVD disparities, nutrition, and intervention strategies. Key areas of investigation included:
-
Comparative effectiveness of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet versus the African Heritage Diet.
-
Evaluation of culinary medicine as a behavioral intervention in improving dietary adherence and long-term health outcomes.
-
Assessment of community-driven programs, including faith-based health initiatives, mobile health clinics, telemedicine, and local agricultural partnerships.
Results & Discussion Findings suggest that nutrition-based interventions incorporating cultural familiarity improve dietary adherence and effectiveness. The African Heritage Diet, rooted in traditional heritage while combining historical dietary patterns, may enhance patient compliance. Culinary medicine interventions further reinforce sustainable dietary behaviors by integrating hands-on, culturally relevant nutrition education.
Additionally, Community-based health programs significantly enhance healthcare accessibility. Faith-based initiatives and mobile health clinics provide trusted, localized care, while telemedicine and food accessibility programs address logistical barriers to health management. Despite these benefits, several challenges persist, including limited rural healthcare infrastructure, the need for culturally competent dietary recommendations, and a lack of large-scale implementation studies.
Conclusion & Future Directions Culturally tailored dietary interventions and community-driven healthcare models show promise in reducing CVD disparities among rural African Americans. Future research should focus on the scalability and long-term sustainability of these interventions. Policy-driven solutions, such as expanding funding for mobile health services and integrating cultural competency training in medical curriculum, are necessary to bridge existing healthcare gaps. Addressing these structural challenges will be critical in improving cardiovascular health outcomes in underserved populations.