Reducing Diabetes Health Disparities Through Community-Based Participatory Action Research: The Chicago Southeast Diabetes Community Action Coalition
Author: Giachello, Aida L.; Arrom, Jose O.; Davis, Margaret
Date Published: 2003
To address disproportionately high rates of diabetes morbidity and mortality in
some of Chicago’s medically underserved minority neighborhoods, a group of
community residents, medical and social service providers, and a local university
founded the Chicago Southeast Diabetes Community Action Coalition, a
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention REACH 2010 Initiative. A community based participatory action research model guided coalition activities from
conceptualization through implementation. Capacity building activities included
training on: diabetes, coalition building, research methods, and action planning.
Other activities sought to increase coalition members’ understanding of
the social causes and potential solutions for health disparities related to
diabetes. Trained coalition members conducted epidemiologic analyses, focus
groups, a telephone survey, and a community inventory. All coalition members
participated in decisions. The participatory process led to increased awareness
of the complexities of diabetes in the community and to a state of readiness
for social action. Data documented disparities in diabetes. The participatory
action research approach (a) encouraged key stakeholders outside of the health
care sector to participate (e.g., business sector, church groups); (b) permitted
an examination of the sociopolitical context affecting the health of the community;
(c) provided an opportunity to focus on preventing the onset of diabetes
and its complications; (d) increased understanding of the importance of
community research in catalyzing social action aimed at community and
systems change and change among change agents.