Mosque-based Health Literacy Assessment and Intervention: A Pilot Study
Sondos, Al Sad, MD, MPH, NCMP, Assistant Professor - Clinical,The Ohio State University
Background
Lack of health literacy has been linked to poor health outcomes and avoidable health care costs. Care providers tend to overestimate health literacy among minority patients; and Muslims are not an exception. Mosque-based interventions for health promotion can result in positive health outcomes when content is culturally tailored and disseminated with community partners
Objective
To conduct a mosque-based health literacy needs assessment. Subsequently, provide community with identified and tailored health literacy through peer-led group. Our intervention is located at Noor Islamic Cultural Center (NICC), Dublin, Ohio.
Methods
A convenience sampling of a four-question digital survey regarding knowledge of health literacy terms, topics of interest, and preferred days and times to tailor to mosque congregants needs. Survey was sent through NICC Facebook page and electronic newsletter. Then health literacy team, which is formed of physicians from different fields and Pre-Med college graduates worked on recruiting local community care providers to increase cultural concordance between speakers and audience.
Results
Seventy-one responses were collected between November 2018 and January 2019. Less than 60% recognized the term “Health Literacy”, over 66% were interested in women’s and mental health. Over 33% showed interest in obesity and diabetes. Accordingly, a Fiqh (jurisprudence) in Menstruation lecture was provided by a Muslim scholar gynecologist; successfully engaging over 150 attendees. A later lecture addressing diabetes in Ramadan; attracting over 35 attendees, several reporters, and radio channel interviews.
Discussion
Over a third did not recognize the health literacy as a term which maybe a starting point to attend to when initiating health care provision or interactions. Since one of the top interests was shown in women’s health, we approached a Muslim gynecologist who has a wealth of knowledge in the religious dimension of Menstruation. Greater attendance was hence observed potentially due to the following factors: women's health framed within a religious context, and presence of a guest speaker. Demographics of survey respondents were missing which could have shed light on why women’s health was a primary interest.
Conclusion
Further surveillance and data collection are needed to learn how to best design future Mosque-based interventions and measure the impact post intervention.
Lack of health literacy has been linked to poor health outcomes and avoidable health care costs. Care providers tend to overestimate health literacy among minority patients; and Muslims are not an exception. Mosque-based interventions for health promotion can result in positive health outcomes when content is culturally tailored and disseminated with community partners
Objective
To conduct a mosque-based health literacy needs assessment. Subsequently, provide community with identified and tailored health literacy through peer-led group. Our intervention is located at Noor Islamic Cultural Center (NICC), Dublin, Ohio.
Methods
A convenience sampling of a four-question digital survey regarding knowledge of health literacy terms, topics of interest, and preferred days and times to tailor to mosque congregants needs. Survey was sent through NICC Facebook page and electronic newsletter. Then health literacy team, which is formed of physicians from different fields and Pre-Med college graduates worked on recruiting local community care providers to increase cultural concordance between speakers and audience.
Results
Seventy-one responses were collected between November 2018 and January 2019. Less than 60% recognized the term “Health Literacy”, over 66% were interested in women’s and mental health. Over 33% showed interest in obesity and diabetes. Accordingly, a Fiqh (jurisprudence) in Menstruation lecture was provided by a Muslim scholar gynecologist; successfully engaging over 150 attendees. A later lecture addressing diabetes in Ramadan; attracting over 35 attendees, several reporters, and radio channel interviews.
Discussion
Over a third did not recognize the health literacy as a term which maybe a starting point to attend to when initiating health care provision or interactions. Since one of the top interests was shown in women’s health, we approached a Muslim gynecologist who has a wealth of knowledge in the religious dimension of Menstruation. Greater attendance was hence observed potentially due to the following factors: women's health framed within a religious context, and presence of a guest speaker. Demographics of survey respondents were missing which could have shed light on why women’s health was a primary interest.
Conclusion
Further surveillance and data collection are needed to learn how to best design future Mosque-based interventions and measure the impact post intervention.