Perceptions of CVD Risk: A Focus Group Study of North Carolina African American Women

Among women, African American women have a death rate for cardiovascular disease (CVD) almost four times higher than that of their Caucasian counterparts. Increased study of African American women's perception of risk is necessary to inform the development of effective intervention strategies to specifically address the barriers and challenges African American women face in reducing their risk for CVD. The Heart Talk perceptions project at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill conducted ten focus groups with 115 African American women over the age 40. Participants associated CVD with risk factors such as having a family history of the disease, eating habits and being stressed. Likewise, participants considered themselves to be highly susceptible for heart disease compared to other women their age. Despite these recognitions, participants expressed the tendency to neglect their heart health because of competing priorities. A primary barrier cited during the discussions included the traditional cultural belief regarding women‟s role as primary caregiver for the family, which makes it difficult for African American women to place their health as a priority over the competing needs of their family.Master of Public Healt