Improving Latino Disaster Preparedness Using Social Networks

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. (Am J Prev Med 2009;37 (6):512-517) (C) 2009 American journal of Preventive Medicine