Church-Sponsored Promotornan di Salú/Community Health Worker-Led Health Fair Promoting Hypertension Awareness in Willemstad, Curaçao: A Pilot Study Assessing Participant Satisfaction and Experience
High blood pressure, or hypertension, remains a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, contributing significantly to global morbidity and mortality, particularly in Caribbean island nations like Curaçao. This pilot study assessed the impact of a health fair led by Community Health Workers (CHWs) or Promotornan di Salú and organized in collaboration with local faith-based organizations to increase hypertension awareness and promote preventive behaviors. The study utilized a cross-sectional design, and data were gathered from attendees at a health fair held on 29 June 2024, at the Iglesia House of Worship in Willemstad, Curaçao. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographics, event satisfaction, health behavior intentions, and qualitative feedback data from participants aged 12 years and older. Of the 145 participants, 78.6% rated the event as excellent, 83.4% expressed plans to change their health behaviors, 80.6% intended to share information with family and friends, and 59.7% intended to follow up with a general practitioner (GP)/doctor. These findings highlight the effectiveness of culturally tailored, community-based initiatives to raise hypertension awareness, improve health literacy, and promote preventive health behaviors. The success of this intervention emphasizes the potential of CHW-led health fairs as valuable public health strategies and practical training opportunities for reducing the burden of chronic conditions like hypertension.
Authors
- Jenna R. Krall (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6836-149X)
- Kenneth B. Christopher (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6067-972X)
- L E Bryan
- Tiffany Arvizu
- Alice Juliet
- Sinead Mathilda-Fraaij
- Elisette Rooi-Cannister
Institutions
- George Mason University (US)
- University of Curaçao (CW)
- Liberty University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
- Published
- 2025-08-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22091318
- Primary Topic
- Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00