NEEMA : A school-based diabetes risk prevention program designed for African-American children

• Published in: Journal of the National Medical Association Vol. 99; no. 4; pp. 368 - 375
• Main Authors: SHAW-PERRY, Mary, HORNER, Charlotte, TREVINO, Roberto P, SOSA, Erica T, HERNANDEZ, Irene, BHARDWAJ, Abhishek
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thorofare, NJ Slack 01.04.2007; Elsevier Limited; National Medical Association
• Subjects: African Americans - education; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Curriculum; Diabetes Mellitus - ethnology; Diabetes Mellitus - prevention & control; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; General aspects; Health Education - organization & administration; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Medical sciences; Pilot Projects; Program Evaluation; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; School Health Services - organization & administration; Social Support; Students; Texas; United States; United States; Texas; Endocrinopathy; Human; Obesity; Sanitary program; Diabetes mellitus; Nutrition disorder; African Americans; Risk; Epidemiology; School environment; Prevention; Goal; Risk factor; children's health; Tropical medicine; Child; diabetes; Nutritional status; Public health; African American; Fitness
• ISSN: 0027-9684; 1943-4693

To conduct formative assessment and preliminary biological impact of a school-based diabetes risk prevention program for African-American children during a 14-week study. NEEMA is a school-based diabetes prevention program tailored for African-American children. The NEEMA is implemented via four social networks-classroom (Health and Physical Education Class), after school (Health Club), home (Family Fun Fair) and school cafeteria (Food Service Program). Formative assessment data were collected through semistructured interviews with physical education (PE) teachers and a pre-to-post design was used to measure biological impact. Fasting capillary glucose, height, weight, body mass index, percent body fat and fitness data were collected from a sample of 58 fourth-grade students. The six elementary schools had > 40% African-American enrollment and were located in low-income neighborhoods. Face-to-face interview data revealed diabetes, obesity and food insufficiency as major health concerns among PE teachers. Teachers also cited large classes and short PE periods as major challenges for implementing the program. From baseline to follow-up, fitness laps increased from 16.40 (SD = 9.98) to 23.72 (SD = 14.79) (p < 0.000), fasting capillary glucose decreased from 89.17 mg/dl (SD = 10.05) to 83.50 mg/dl (SD = 11.26) (p < 0.000), and percent body fat decreased from 27.26 (SD=12.89) to 26.68 (SD = 11.67) (p < 0.537). The NEEMA pilot study provided teacher feedback useful for revising the NEEMA health curricula and positive preliminary impact of the NEEMA PE class on children's fitness and blood glucose levels.