An impact evaluation of a community health fair among predominantly Hispanic participants on the United States/Mexico border

This study evaluated the impact of a community health fair among predominately Hispanic participants. It examined nutrition knowledge, eating behaviors, and eating intentions. The questionnaire was comprised of a demographic section, fifteen multiple choice questions, seven eating behaviors statements, and seven eating intentions statements constructed using a Likert-scale. This instrument was adapted using the Diet Behavior and Nutrition Section of the SP Questionnaire from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2002. Participants consisted of 106 individuals from the mission area located in El Paso, Texas. This study included a follow-up administered to approximately 19% of the original sample 4–6 weeks from the date the initial questionnaire was completed. Descriptive statistics (means and frequencies) were used to provide a participant profile. For each dependent variable of interest, a mixed analysis of variance was performed to assess the effects of the community health fair on nutritional knowledge scores, eating behaviors scores, and eating intention scores. To assess the effect of the fair on nutritional knowledge, behaviors, and intentions the between subjects variable was the language in which the survey was taken and the within-subjects variable was the pre-test scores. Results from this study indicated that nutrition knowledge improved overall among participants and other analysis showed that English and Spanish responders differed significantly at pretest, but not at posttest. Eating behavior scores decreased overall from pretest to posttest for all participants completing both measures and eating intentions showed no change from pretest to posttest. With a foundation in health education and promotion and program planning and evaluation, community health fairs can be an effective means for reaching large amounts of people and improving community knowledge