Health Care Information in African American Churches

Churches are a trusted resource in African American communities; however, little is known about their presentation of health care information. This study characterized health care information disseminated by 11 African American churches. Content analysis conducted on print media systematically collected over one year used a coding scheme with .77 intercoder reliability. Health care information was identified in 243 items and represented three topics (screening, medical services, health insurance). Screening was the most common topic (n = 156), flyers/handouts most often used (n = 90), and the church the most common source (n = 71). Using chi-square tests, information was assessed over time with health insurance information showing a statistically significant increase (χ² = 6.08, p < .05). Study churches provided health care information at varying levels of detail with most coming from church and community publications. Future research should examine additional characteristics of health care information, its presence in other churches and community settings, and how exposure influences behaviors.