Success StoryPrioritizing Women's Health
Prioritizing Women's Health
Author: Marla Stillwell
Planning Unit: LaRue County CES
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
Plan of Work: Improve Physical and Mental Health
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
According to the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service Community Needs Assessment completed in 2023, LaRue County respondents reported that improving access to mental health and wellbeing resources should be a priority moving forward. Therefore, the LaRue County FCS program prioritized this finding by introducing a Women's Health Fair for members of the community. Low levels of physical activity, unhealthy nutrition, and poor mental health are all determinants of several chronic diseases. These behaviors are now considered major public health concerns and require effective behaviour change interventions. The LaRue County Women's Health Fair is a community-based program to increase awareness of local health resources as well as provide opportunities for health screenings.
The Women's Health Fair goal was to improve health outcomes for LaRue County citizens, specifically women. As an innovative strategy to improve and increase awareness with LaRue County residents, the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent partnered with 15 various organizations including University of Louisville Health Brown Cancer Center, Raising Hope, Baptist Health Hardin, Clarity Solutions for Women, KY Moms Matter, KYNECT, Passport, UK Health, Well Care of KY, ECTC, Silverleaf, Lincoln Trail Area Aging and Independent Living.
Through this program, participants focused on improving health behaviors by making lifestyle choices to increase physical activity, make nutritious choices and stay on top of their health through health screenings. Fifty-eight (58) adults participated in this program. As a result of this program, 98% percent increased their awareness of local health resources and 96% percent reported having gained the knowledge of their overall health status through screenings of one or more health indicators (breast health, cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, blood glucose). In addition to individual behavior change, 100% percent reported being more aware of places in their community to access nutritious recipes and make healthier food choices.
At the completion of the program, participants shared, "a great diverse offering of so many resources regarding health, thank you!"
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