Abstract
Promotoras are trusted members of underserved, at-risk Hispanic communities experiencing social and health inequities. As promotora–researchers, promotoras have the unique ability and opportunity not only to provide outreach and education but also to be actively engaged in conducting research in their communities and serve as a cultural bridge between the community and researchers. In this article, we present a case study of personal and collective empowerment of six promotora–researchers who participated in seven community-based participatory research projects. Data sources included debriefing interviews with the promotora–researchers, milestone tracking and documentation completed during and after each study, and observations by the principal investigator and project managers regarding the role of the promotora–researchers in these studies. We qualitatively analyzed the data to identify the processes and decisions that were developed and implemented in a series of projects, which resulted in promotora–researcher empowerment. We found that active engagement empowered promotora–researchers personally and collectively in all phases of the research study. Common elements that contributed to the empowerment of promotora–researchers were valuing promotora–researchers’ input, enabling promotora–researchers to acquire and utilize new skills, and allowing promotora–researchers to serve as both researchers and traditional promotoras. Together, these elements enabled them to more fully participate in research projects, while allowing them to identify and address needs within their own communities.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Balcázar, H., Alvarado, M., Cantu, F., Pedregon, V., & Fulwood, R. (2009). A promotora de salud model for addressing cardiovascular disease risk factors in the US-Mexico border region. Preventing Chronic Disease, 6, A02.
Brumby, S. A., Willder, S. J., & Martin, J. (2009). The sustainable farm families project: Changing attitudes to health. Rural and Remote Health, 9, 1012.
Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services. (2007, March). Community Health Worker National Workforce Study. Retrieved from http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor. (2008). Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/.
Cartwright, E., Schow, D., Herrera, S., Lora, Y., Mendez, M., Mitchell, D., …Trejo, A. (2006). Using participatory research to build an effective type 2 diabetes intervention: The process of advocacy among female Hispanic farmworkers and their families in Southeast Idaho. Women & Health, 43, 89–109.
Crowe, J. L., Keifer, M. C., & Salazar, M. K. (2008). Striving to provide opportunities for farm worker community participation in research. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 14, 205–219.
Dean, W. R., Sharkey, J. R., Johnson, C. M., & St. John, J. A. (2012). Cultural repertoires and food-related household technology within colonia households under conditions of material hardship. International Journal for Equity in Health, 11, 25.
Dean, W. R., Sharkey, J. R., & St. John, J. A. (2011). Pulga (flea market) contributions to the retail food environment of colonias in the South Texas border region. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 111, 705–710.
Díaz-Apodaca, B. A., Ebrahim, S., McCormack, V., de Cosío, F. G., & Ruiz-Holguín, R. (2010). Prevalence of type 2 diabetes and impaired fasting glucose: Cross-sectional study of multiethnic adult population at the United States-Mexico border. Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública, 28, 174–181.
Ezendam, N. P., Springer, A. E., Brug, J., Oenema, A., & Hoelscher, D. H. (2011). Do trends in physical activity, sedentary, and dietary behaviors support trends in obesity prevalence in 2 border regions in Texas? Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 43, 210–218.
Flegal, K. M., Ogden, C. L., & Carroll, M. D. (2004). Prevalence and trends in overweight in Mexican-American adults and children. Nutrition Reviews, 62(7, Pt. 2), S144–S148.
Heisler, M., Spencer, M., Forman, J., Robinson, C., Shultz, C., Palmisano, G., …Kieffer, E. (2009). Participants’ assessments of the effects of a community health worker intervention on their diabetes self-management and interactions with healthcare providers. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 37(6, Suppl. 1), S270–S279.
Hoelscher, D. M., & Day, R. S. (2004). Obesity. In R. S. Day (Ed.), Nourishing the future: The case for nutrition research in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (pp. 58–64). Houston, TX: The University of Texas School of Public Health.
Israel, B. A., Schulz, A. J., Parker, E. A., & Becker, A. B. (1998). Review of community-based research: Assessing partnership approaches to improve public health. Annual Review of Public Health, 19, 173–202.
Johnson, C. M., Sharkey, J. R., & Dean, W. R. (2011). It’s all about the children: A participant-driven photo-elicitation study of Mexican-origin mothers’ food choices. BMC Women’s Health, 11, 41.
Kumanyika, S. (2006). Nutrition and chronic disease prevention: Priorities for US minority groups. Nutrition Reviews, 64(2, Pt. 2), S9–S14.
Larkey, L. K., Gonzalez, J. A., Mar, L. E., & Glantz, N. (2009). Latina recruitment for cancer prevention education via community based participatory research strategies. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 30, 47–54.
Levine, D. M., Becker, D. M., & Bone, L. R. (1992). Narrowing the gap in health status of minority populations: A community-academic medical center partnership. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 8(5), 319–323.
Maietta, R. (2007). Sort & sift, think & shift: Multidimensional qualitative analysis. (Unpublished manuscript).
Marsiglia, F. F., Bermudez-Parsai, M., & Coonrod, D. (2010). Familias Sanas: An intervention designed to increase postpartum visits among Latinas. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 21(3), 119–131.
McCloskey, J. (2009). Promotores as partners in a community-based diabetes intervention program targeting Hispanics. Family & Community Health, 32, 48–57.
Mier, N., Ory, M. G., Zhan, D., Conkling, M., Sharkey, J. R., & Burdine, J. N. (2008). Health-related quality of life among Mexican Americans living in colonias at the Texas-Mexico border. Social Science and Medicine, 66, 1760–1771.
Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
Naylor, P. J., Wharf-Higgins, J., Blair, L., Green, L., & O’Connor, B. (2002). Evaluating the participatory process in a community-based heart health project. Social Science and Medicine, 55, 1173–1187.
Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Curtin, L. R., McDowell, M. A., Tabak, C. J., & Flegal, K. M. (2006). Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, 1999–2004. Journal of the American Medical Association, 295, 1549–1555.
Otiniano, A. D., Carroll-Scott, A., Toy, P., & Wallace, S. P. (2012). Supporting Latino communities’ natural helpers: A case study of promotoras in a research capacity building course. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 14(4), 657–663.
Page, N., & Czuba, C. E. (1999). Empowerment: What is it. Journal of Extension, 37(5), 1–5.
Peña, S., & Rosenthal, E. L. (2010). Colonias health issues in Texas. In A. J. Donelson & A. X. Esparza (Eds.), The colonias reader: Economy, housing, and public health in US-Mexico Border Colonias (pp. 176–189). Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press.
Ramos, I. N., May, M., & Ramos, K. S. (2001). Environmental health training of promotoras in colonias along the Texas-Mexico border. American Journal of Public Health, 91, 568–570.
Ruiz, Y., Matos, S., Kapadia, S., et al. (2012). Lessons learned from a community-academic initiative: The development of a core competency-based training for community-academic initiative community health workers. American Journal of Public Health, 102(12), 2372–2379.
Savage, C. L., Xu, Y., Lee, R., Rose, B. L., Kappesser, M., & Anthony, J. S. (2006). A case study in the use of community-based participatory research in public health nursing. Public Health Nursing, 23, 472–478.
Sharkey, J. R. (2011, February). Influence of mobile food vendors on food and beverage choices of low-income Mexican-American children in Texas colonias. Paper presented at the 5th Annual Grantee Meeting of the Robert W. Johnson Foundation Healthy Eating Research Program, Austin, TX.
Sharkey, J. R., Dean, W. R., & Johnson, C. M. (2011a). Association of household and community characteristics with adult and child food insecurity among Mexican-origin households in colonias along the Texas-Mexico border. International Journal for Equity in Health, 10, 19.
Sharkey, J. R., Dean, W. R., & Johnson, C. M. (2011b). Country of birth is associated with very low food security among Mexican American older adults living in colonias along the South Texas border with Mexico. Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics, 30, 187–200.
Sharkey, J. R., Dean, W. R., St. John, J. A., & Huber, J. C. (2010). Using direct observation on multiple occasions to measure household food availability among low-income Mexicano residents in Texas colonias. BMC Public Health, 10, 445.
Sharkey, J. R., Horel, S., Han, D., & Huber, J. C., Jr. (2009a). Association between neighborhood need and spatial access to food stores and fast food restaurants in neighborhoods of colonias. International Journal of Health Geographics, 8, 9.
Sharkey, J. R., Johnson, C. M., & Dean, W. R. (2011c). Nativity is associated with sugar-sweetened beverage and fast-food meal consumption among Mexican-origin women in Texas border colonias. Nutrition Journal, 10, 101.
Sharkey, J. R., Sharf, B. F., & St. John, J. A. (2009b). “Una persona derechita (staying right in the mind)”: Perceptions of Spanish-speaking Mexican-American older adults in South Texas Colonias. The Gerontologist, 49(Suppl. 1), S79–S85.
Staten, L. K., Scheu, L. L., Bronson, D., Peña, V., & Elenas, J. (2005). Pasos Adelante: The effectiveness of a community-based chronic disease prevention program. Preventing Chronic Disease, 2, A18.
Stewart, G. (1990). Personal and collective empowerment among migrant farmworker camp health Aides. Report submitted to the Midwest Migrant Health Information Office, Monroe, MI.
Sukovic, M., Sharf, B. F., Sharkey, J. R., & St. John, J. A. (2011). Seasoning for the soul: Empowerment through food preparation among Mexican women in the Texas colonias. Food and Foodways, 19, 228–247.
US Census Bureau, US Department of Commerce. (2010). 2005–2009 American Community Survey. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/acs/www/.
Wallerstein, N. B., & Duran, B. (2006). Using community-based participatory research to address health disparities. Health Promotion Practice, 7(3), 312–323.
Ward, P. M. (1999). Colonias and public policy in Texas and Mexico. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press.
Texas State Energy Conservation Office (n.d.). Colonias Projects. Retrieved from http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/colonias.htm.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
St. John, J.A., Johnson, C.M., Sharkey, J.R. et al. Empowerment of Promotoras as Promotora–Researchers in the Comidas Saludables & Gente Sana en las Colonias del Sur de Tejas (Healthy Food and Healthy People in South Texas Colonias) Program. J Primary Prevent 34, 41–57 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-013-0296-1
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-013-0296-1