The Role of Black Churches in Supporting Compliance with Antihypertension Regimens

Abstract

Although considerable gains have been made in hypertension control in the United States, the rate of control in blacks is lower than in whites. It has been asserted that this low control rate in blacks is due to lack of compliance. Using previously tested and new measures, as well as chart audit, this pilot study evaluated the specific role and effectiveness of the black church in promoting compliance with antihypertension regimens. A sample of 63 hypertensive subjects from two inner-city black churches participated; 33 were from a church that had a hypertension screening project and 30 were from one that did not. Clients from the church with the project did not score higher on a self-report compliance measure than those from the church without the project. Furthermore, no relationship was found between support and compliance and blood pressure control, although relationships were seen between age and compliance scores, and between following a doctor's advice and compliance scores. The church without a screening program was viewed by clients as more supportive than the one with the program.

The relationship of spirituality and the health promoting behaviors of diet and exercise of African American women

“…This is very representative of what is usually found in Black churches. Black churches used in other studies also tended to have a mixture of individuals at all income levels, and all educational levels (Smith, 1989;Reniscow et al, 2001). Census data maps used to determine prominent residential areas of African Americans did not include educational or income levels, only ethnicity of the residents (homer.ssd.census.gov., Accessed 11/07/00).…”

“…The first setting was three African American Baptist Churches in Central and South Florida. The importance of religion at the core of African American life is well documented (Levin, 1984;Smith, 1989). It is also well known that the majority of African Americans in the South attend Baptist denominations; hence, the recruitment of subjects were from the Baptist church.…”

“…Some study findings have included positive outcomes from church based investigations (Kumanyika and Charleston, 1992;McNabb et al, 1997), while others have not had such definitive outcomes of the role of the church (Smith, 1989). Smith (1989) examined the role of Black churches in supporting compliance with antihypertensive regimens.…”

“…A rapidly growing body of literature points to the relevance of basing strategies of planned social change within the sphere of religion targeting Black Americans (Levin, 1984;Smith, 1989;Kavanaugh, 1997;Hassed, 1999). Although external influences upon the theological orientation of the Black church may vary, its central role has remained essentially unchanged.…”

“…Smith (1989) examined the role of Black churches in supporting compliance with antihypertensive regimens. In this study, a sample of 63 hypertensive subjects from two inner-city Black churches, 33 from a church that had a hypertension screening project and 30 from one that did not, were evaluated.…”