“We worked together to change things about our lives”: a longitudinal qualitative analysis exploring Hispanic/Latino and Somali immigrant health promoters’ perspectives on a social network intervention to address cardiovascular disease disparities
Abstract Background Evidence-based health promotion programs are commonly assessed within research environments, yet there is a critical need to understand how to implement interventions across multiple settings, prioritizing populations who are underserved and under-resourced. A possible approach i...
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BMC
2025-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21682-y |
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| author | Abby M. Lohr Manisha Salinas Laura Suarez Pardo Jhenitza P. Raygoza Ahmed Mohamed Enid Campos Hana Dirie Khadija Ali María Graciela Porraz Capetillo Hindi Elmi Omar Nur Luz Molina Ahmed Osman Thomas W. Valente Joan M. Griffin Mark L. Wieland Irene G. Sia |
| author_facet | Abby M. Lohr Manisha Salinas Laura Suarez Pardo Jhenitza P. Raygoza Ahmed Mohamed Enid Campos Hana Dirie Khadija Ali María Graciela Porraz Capetillo Hindi Elmi Omar Nur Luz Molina Ahmed Osman Thomas W. Valente Joan M. Griffin Mark L. Wieland Irene G. Sia |
| author_sort | Abby M. Lohr |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Evidence-based health promotion programs are commonly assessed within research environments, yet there is a critical need to understand how to implement interventions across multiple settings, prioritizing populations who are underserved and under-resourced. A possible approach involves leveraging established social networks to enhance health outcomes. Within these networks, influential individuals, known as health promoters (HPs), play a key role in disseminating health information. The Rochester Healthy Community Partnership created a social network–based intervention called Healthy Immigrant Community (HIC), utilizing HPs to encourage healthy eating and physical activity to address cardiovascular disease outcomes among Hispanic/Latino and Somali immigrant populations. We conducted three focus groups pre-, mid-, and post intervention (nine groups total; n = 30) to understand HPs’ motivations for participating, implementation barriers and facilitators they faced, and suggestions for improvement. Methods Using the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Framework and Public Health Critical Race Praxis, we conducted a longitudinal trajectory analysis to explore themes and changes over time. Results Participants reported that their motivations to be a HP in Healthy Immigrant Community were personal goals, such as health improvement and weight loss, as well as collective community benefits and personal gains like knowledge and leadership skills. Barriers included logistical challenges, navigating health-related differences between one’s country of origin and the US, and structural issues such as racism, high costs (e.g., food), and absence of an affordable gym. Facilitators included strong community ties, peer-to-peer support, and culturally relevant approaches, with participants recommending additional resources, tailored programming, and reframing the program’s focus on overall health rather than weight loss. Conclusions Our study highlighted a shift in HPs’ motivations to participate in Healthy Immigrant Community from weight loss to holistic health promotion. The HPs’ reflections on their experience showcase the transformative impact of culturally tailored, equity-focused interventions while emphasizing the need to address systemic barriers and incorporate community feedback for sustainable change. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bbc965d1cf1a4ff88acf1d458dbe6223 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-bbc965d1cf1a4ff88acf1d458dbe62232025-08-20T02:01:42ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-03-0125111610.1186/s12889-025-21682-y“We worked together to change things about our lives”: a longitudinal qualitative analysis exploring Hispanic/Latino and Somali immigrant health promoters’ perspectives on a social network intervention to address cardiovascular disease disparitiesAbby M. Lohr0Manisha Salinas1Laura Suarez Pardo2Jhenitza P. Raygoza3Ahmed Mohamed4Enid Campos5Hana Dirie6Khadija Ali7María Graciela Porraz Capetillo8Hindi Elmi9Omar Nur10Luz Molina11Ahmed Osman12Thomas W. Valente13Joan M. Griffin14Mark L. Wieland15Irene G. Sia16Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo ClinicDivision of Community Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, Mayo ClinicCenter ClinicCommunity Based Research, Mayo ClinicPamoja WomenCommunity Based Research, Mayo ClinicSomali American Social Services OrganizationSomali American Social Services OrganizationCommunity Based Research, Mayo ClinicIntercultural Mutual Assistance AssociationKeck School of Medicine, University of Southern CaliforniaRobert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo ClinicCenter for Clinical and Translational Science, Mayo ClinicDivision of Public Health, Infectious Diseases, and Occupational Medicine, Mayo ClinicAbstract Background Evidence-based health promotion programs are commonly assessed within research environments, yet there is a critical need to understand how to implement interventions across multiple settings, prioritizing populations who are underserved and under-resourced. A possible approach involves leveraging established social networks to enhance health outcomes. Within these networks, influential individuals, known as health promoters (HPs), play a key role in disseminating health information. The Rochester Healthy Community Partnership created a social network–based intervention called Healthy Immigrant Community (HIC), utilizing HPs to encourage healthy eating and physical activity to address cardiovascular disease outcomes among Hispanic/Latino and Somali immigrant populations. We conducted three focus groups pre-, mid-, and post intervention (nine groups total; n = 30) to understand HPs’ motivations for participating, implementation barriers and facilitators they faced, and suggestions for improvement. Methods Using the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Framework and Public Health Critical Race Praxis, we conducted a longitudinal trajectory analysis to explore themes and changes over time. Results Participants reported that their motivations to be a HP in Healthy Immigrant Community were personal goals, such as health improvement and weight loss, as well as collective community benefits and personal gains like knowledge and leadership skills. Barriers included logistical challenges, navigating health-related differences between one’s country of origin and the US, and structural issues such as racism, high costs (e.g., food), and absence of an affordable gym. Facilitators included strong community ties, peer-to-peer support, and culturally relevant approaches, with participants recommending additional resources, tailored programming, and reframing the program’s focus on overall health rather than weight loss. Conclusions Our study highlighted a shift in HPs’ motivations to participate in Healthy Immigrant Community from weight loss to holistic health promotion. The HPs’ reflections on their experience showcase the transformative impact of culturally tailored, equity-focused interventions while emphasizing the need to address systemic barriers and incorporate community feedback for sustainable change.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21682-yCommunity-based participatory researchEmigrants and immigrantsRefugeesSocial networkFocus groups |
| spellingShingle | Abby M. Lohr Manisha Salinas Laura Suarez Pardo Jhenitza P. Raygoza Ahmed Mohamed Enid Campos Hana Dirie Khadija Ali María Graciela Porraz Capetillo Hindi Elmi Omar Nur Luz Molina Ahmed Osman Thomas W. Valente Joan M. Griffin Mark L. Wieland Irene G. Sia “We worked together to change things about our lives”: a longitudinal qualitative analysis exploring Hispanic/Latino and Somali immigrant health promoters’ perspectives on a social network intervention to address cardiovascular disease disparities BMC Public Health Community-based participatory research Emigrants and immigrants Refugees Social network Focus groups |
| title | “We worked together to change things about our lives”: a longitudinal qualitative analysis exploring Hispanic/Latino and Somali immigrant health promoters’ perspectives on a social network intervention to address cardiovascular disease disparities |
| title_full | “We worked together to change things about our lives”: a longitudinal qualitative analysis exploring Hispanic/Latino and Somali immigrant health promoters’ perspectives on a social network intervention to address cardiovascular disease disparities |
| title_fullStr | “We worked together to change things about our lives”: a longitudinal qualitative analysis exploring Hispanic/Latino and Somali immigrant health promoters’ perspectives on a social network intervention to address cardiovascular disease disparities |
| title_full_unstemmed | “We worked together to change things about our lives”: a longitudinal qualitative analysis exploring Hispanic/Latino and Somali immigrant health promoters’ perspectives on a social network intervention to address cardiovascular disease disparities |
| title_short | “We worked together to change things about our lives”: a longitudinal qualitative analysis exploring Hispanic/Latino and Somali immigrant health promoters’ perspectives on a social network intervention to address cardiovascular disease disparities |
| title_sort | we worked together to change things about our lives a longitudinal qualitative analysis exploring hispanic latino and somali immigrant health promoters perspectives on a social network intervention to address cardiovascular disease disparities |
| topic | Community-based participatory research Emigrants and immigrants Refugees Social network Focus groups |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21682-y |
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