Developing a guide for community‐based groups to reduce alcohol‐related harm among African migrants. (5th January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jaworski, Alison; Brown, Tony; Norman, Catherine; Hata, Kiri; Toohey, Mark; Vasiljevic, Dubravka; Rowe, Rachel
• Is Part Of: Health promotion journal of Australia. Volume 27:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 21
• Page End: 28
• Publication Date: 2016-01-05
• Subjects: Health promotion -- Periodicals; Health promotion -- Australia -- Periodicals; 613.0994
• DOI: 10.1071/HE15030
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1036-1073

Abstract

Abstract : Issue addressed: Alcohol‐related harm is an issue of concern for African migrant communities living in Australia. However, there has been little information available to guide workers in developing culturally sensitive health promotion strategies. Methods: A three‐step approach, comprising a literature review, community consultations and an external review, was undertaken to develop a guide to assist organisations and health promotion groups working with African migrant communities to address alcohol‐related harms. Discussion: There was a high level of agreement between the three steps. Addressing alcohol harms with African migrant communities requires approaches that are sensitive to the needs, structures and experiences of communities. The process should incorporate targeted approaches that enable communities to achieve their resettlement goals as well as strengthening mainstream health promotion efforts. Conclusions: The resource produced guides alcohol harm prevention coalitions and workers from the first steps of understanding the influences of acculturation and resettlement on alcohol consumption, through to planning, developing and evaluating an intervention in partnership with communities. So what?: This paper advances knowledge by providing a precise summary of Australian African migrant focused alcohol and other drug research to date. It also describes a three‐step approach that aimed to incorporate a diversity of community views in the creation of a health promotion and community capacity‐building resource. Abstract : Until now, practical guidance on how to reduce alcohol‐related harms in partnership with African communities has been scarce. This paper describes the results of a three‐step process undertaken to create a guide to assist community groups and workers develop effective and culturally appropriate health promotion strategies. Topics and strategies discussed in this paper and the guide may also be useful for health promotion coalitions working in partnership with other CALD communities to address AOD‐related harm.