Cultural sensitivity and health promotion: Assessing influenza pamphlets designed for African Americans in Champaign, Illinois

The purpose of this study was to examine cultural sensitivity in the pamphlets provided for African Americans regarding influenza shots within the Champaign community and review whether the materials are culturally appropriate with promoting uptake of influenza vaccinations among the African American population. Airihenbuwa’s (Airihenbuwa, 1995) PEN-3 cultural model will be used to determine the cultural sensitivity of the pamphlets. Data will be collected through printed promotional pieces and pamphlets acquired from health practices in the Champaign-Urbana region. Available evidence suggests that African Americans often do not receive influenza shots during flu season despite the promotion of these shots using promotion materials such as pamphlets. Using both thematic and discourse analysis, these pamphlets will be examined to determine their cultural sensitivity to the health care needs of African American in relation to the promotion of influenza shots. By examining cultural sensitivity and health promotion using the PEN-3-cultural model as a guide, pictures and textual messages in the pamphlets will be analyzed using thematic and discourse analysis to determine whether the pamphlets are culturally appropriate for the African American community in Champaign, IL regarding influenza and the flu shot. While cultural identity in the form of the use of African Americans and their family members were evident in some of the pamphlets, none of the pamphlets referenced their neighborhood. In terms of relationship and expectations, perceptions, enabling and nurturing factors in relation to the cultural values of the African American community were depicted in some of the pamphlets while mostly positive and almost no existential or negative messages exemplified cultural empowerment in the pamphlets. The findings highlight the need for cultural sensitivity in the pamphlets used to promote uptake of influenza shots among African Americans in Champaign Il.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Community Health

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Adibu, Marilyn Asiedua

• pamphlet
• Pen-3 Cultural Model

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2015 Marilyn Adibu

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/78691

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/78691