The Family Health Branch of the Arkansas Department of Health has completed a successful collaboration with Dr. Angela Jimenez-Leon, University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service graduate. As part of her final project, she worked with the Family Branch to identify factors that protect against teen pregnancies among Latinos in Arkansas. Dr. Jimenez-Leon is a physician from Colombia who has worked in private practice and as a general practice physician for the Colombian Air Force. She is currently completing work toward a certificate in public health from the Boozman College of Public Health at UAMS.
For her research Dr. Jimenez-Leon conducted a Latino community survey that recruited 278 respondents. After analyzing the data, results showed that protective factors against teen pregnancies included having a mother or sister whose first pregnancy occurred after she was 22 years old and completing high school. This study confirmed the value of community-based participatory research and opened the door to future work within the Hispanic community.
According to Brad Planey, Branch Chief-Family Health, “This research helps inform us of how we may work within the community to reduce teen pregnancies. The focus on the protective factors makes this research unique and provides a positive approach to change in a sensitive area of health for the community.”
Read about Dr. Jimenez-Leon and her work in the May 15th edition of El Latino at http://issuu.com/arkansastimesvisitorsguide/docs/ellat515_issuu
Responses