Healthy lifestyle education program in DoleFil Seventh-day Adventist Church, Polomolok, South Cotabato

Abstract

The project was conducted to increase knowledge and awareness and encourage behavior change on healthy lifestyle practices among the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church members of Dolefil in Alojado, Polomolok, South Cotabato. Results of the needs assessment particularly the gathering of primary data through personal interviews, forum group process, and questionnaire survey showed that a number of families and church members were at high risk of non-communicable diseases especially heart attack, hypertension, and stroke. These were further confirmed due to the unhealthy lifestyle practices of the target community which include the high intake of meat and their products, high consumption of soft drinks and coffee or tea, low intake of vegetables and fruits, lack of exercise, less number of sleep each day, and inadequate water intake. The need for health education among the target group was considered, due to the high morbidity rate of these chronic diseases among the target group and in their respective communities, and of their unhealthy lifestyle practices. The Health Belief Model was used as health promotion framework during the implementation, along with various educational and motivational strategies to ensure better results. Participants who attended all the presentations and participated in all the activities including the cooking demonstrations and backyard gardening verbally expressed their joy of gaining success in practicing healthy lifestyle behaviors. Posttest scores showed a significant increase of knowledge when compared to the pretest scores. Eighty percent of the participants signed the commitment cards to practice what they have learned from the program. Home gardening was started by 40 out of 50 participants. The products from their backyard gardens were part of the source of their daily vegetables consumption. Thus, the problem of chronic diseases among the target group was effectively confronted.