Improving Latino disaster preparedness using social networks

Abstract

Background: Culturally targeted, informal social networking approaches to improving disaster preparedness have not been empirically tested.

Purpose: In partnership with community health promoters and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, this study tested a disaster preparedness program for Latino households.

Design: This study had a community-based, randomized, longitudinal cohort design with two groups and was conducted during February-October 2007. Assessments were made at baseline and 3 months. Analyses were carried out January-October 2008.

Settings/participants: Community-based study of 231 Latinos living in Los Angeles County.

Intervention: Participants were randomly assigned to attending platicas (small-group discussions led by a health promoter/promotora de salud) or receiving "media" (a culturally tailored mailer). A total of 187 (81.0%) completed the 3-month follow-up.

Main outcome measure: A self-reported disaster preparedness checklist was used.

Results: Among participants who did not have emergency water pre-intervention, 93.3% of those in the platica arm had it at follow-up, compared to 66.7% in the media arm (p=0.003). Among participants who did not have food pre-intervention, 91.7% in the platica arm reported it at follow-up, compared to 60.6% in the media arm (p=0.013). Finally, among participants who did not have a family communication plan pre-intervention, 70.4% in the platica arm reported one at follow-up, compared to 42.3% in the media arm (p=0.002).

Conclusions: Although both arms improved in stockpiling water and food and creating a communication plan, the platica arm showed greater improvement than the media group.