Effectiveness and Spillover of an After-School Health Promotion Program for Hispanic Elementary School Children

We evaluated the effectiveness and spillover of an after-school health education and physical activity program among Hispanic elementary school children. In fall 2008, students in third through fifth grades in 6 schools in El Paso, Texas (n = 901), were randomized to intervention (n = 292 participan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of public health (1971) 2011-10, Vol.101 (10), p.1907-1913
Main Authors: DE HEER, Hendrik D, KOEHLY, Laura, PEDERSON, Rockie, MORERA, Osvaldo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
After school programs
Biological and medical sciences
Body Mass Index
Child
Children & youth
Diet
Elementary schools
Female
General aspects
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Promotion - methods
Health Promotion - statistics & numerical data
Hispanic or Latino
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Obesity
Physical education
Physical Fitness
Planification. Prevention (methods). Intervention. Evaluation
Program Evaluation
Public health
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Research and Practice
School Health Services
Students
Surveys and Questionnaires
Texas
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Summary:We evaluated the effectiveness and spillover of an after-school health education and physical activity program among Hispanic elementary school children. In fall 2008, students in third through fifth grades in 6 schools in El Paso, Texas (n = 901), were randomized to intervention (n = 292 participants) or control (n = 354) classrooms (4 unknown). Intervention classrooms also contained a spillover group (n = 251) that did not join the after-school program but that completed measurements and surveys. The intervention was a 12-week culturally tailored after-school program meeting twice a week. Four-month outcomes were body mass index, aerobic capacity, and dietary intentions and knowledge. We calculated intervention exposure as the proportion of after-school participants per classroom. Intervention exposure predicted lower body mass index (P = .045), higher aerobic capacity (P = .012), and greater intentions to eat healthy (P = .046) for the classroom at follow-up. Intervention effectiveness increased with increasing proportions of intervention participants in a classroom. Nonparticipants who had classroom contact with program participants experienced health improvements that could reduce their risk of obesity. Spillover of beneficial intervention effects to nonparticipants is a valuable public health benefit and should be part of program impact assessments.
ISSN:0090-0036
1541-0048
DOI:10.2105/AJPH.2011.300177