Sisters of Heart (Hermanas de Corazón): A Community Health Worker Initiative for Improving Heart Health in Migrant Farmworker Women
Emory University
Summary
The goal of this hybrid Type 1 effectiveness-implementation trial is to test the extent to which a peer support and community resource navigation intervention improves psychological well-being, addresses social determinants of health and thus reduces cardiometabolic risk among rural, migrant, low-income farmworker women aged 18-45 years. The main questions it aims to answer are: * If and to what extent does the intervention reduce stress, social isolation, and psychological distress by improving social support and access to needed resources? * If and to what extent does the intervention improve cardiometabolic health, measured by the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score? Researchers will compare the CHW-led Sisters of Heart (Hermanas de Corazón) intervention to a Basic intervention (LE8 assessment and resource information) to assess the effect of peer support and community resource navigation on heart health outcomes.
Description
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in U.S. women, with a concerning rise in CVD mortality among women under 65-particularly those aged 35-44. Rural, migrant farmworker women face disproportionate risk factors and health disparities related to CVD, yet they remain underrecognized and underserved in prevention efforts. Only 44% of women recognize CVD as their top health threat. Although just 6% of Latinas have been diagnosed with CVD, they experience higher rates of obesity (48% vs. 38%) and type 2 diabetes (13% vs. 6%) compared to non-Latina White women. Women farmworke…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–50 years
- Sex
- Female
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Self-identified female employed as a migrant farmworker; * Fluent in Spanish or English verbal literacy * Planning to be in the geographic area for a minimum of 6 months. Exclusion Criteria: * Cognitive or psychological impairment precluding informed consent and/or active participation in the study due to substance use, neurologic, or other disorder * Pregnant or breastfeeding.
Interventions
- BehavioralSisters of Heart
The intervention consists of ten weekly, 60-75-minute in-person peer support group sessions led by trained community health workers/promotoras (CHWs/Ps), with 6-10 participants per group. Sessions will be semi-structured, covering AHA Life's Essential 8 (LE8), stress management, and individualized topics based on participant priorities and social needs identified through surveys or group discussions. Each session includes stress management, core educational content, and time for addressing participant-driven issues. CHWs/Ps will also provide individualized support outside the sessions through direct community resource navigation, including phone or in-person "warm handoffs" to needed services.
- BehavioralBasic intervention
The Basic intervention will include assessment of AHA LE8, provision to participants of results of 1) their baseline AHA LE8 assessments, including lab results, 2) written/online information with pertinent AHA LE8 health education content, 3) stress management educational materials, and 4) written information about the Ellenton Migrant Farm Worker Clinic and a community resource list
Location
- Southern GA - Colquitt CountyEllenton, Georgia