DanSa, a dance curriculum to increase physical activity in a newly emerging Latino community

[摘要] This thesis develops a culturally appropriate dance curriculum to increase physical activity among the Latino community in Allegheny County. The program is called, DanSa: Danza, Salud y Familia (Dance, Health and Family). DanSa stemmed from an extensive review of the literature and lessons learned from the dance program Dancing 4 Health, a dance program developed by the Latin American Cultural Union (LACU) in 2014 and funded by Highmark, Blue Cross Blue Shield. The program’s goals were to promote health among Latinos in Pittsburgh, while preserving Latin-American and Caribbean culture. DanSa is a program incorporating a Latin American dance curriculum that aims to decrease sedentary behavior among Latinos. It is a 12-week program, offered three times per week to adults and their families in Casa San Jose, a center serving Latinos in the region. The program will include biometric measures and personal data that will be collected pre, mid and post program. In addition, exercise during the classes and outside of them will be measured through pedometers used by participants.DanSa aims to incorporate the community in the marketing and delivery of the program.Because the Latino community in Allegheny County is small (<2% of the total population) and geographically dispersed, the program will have a robust marketing campaign involving referrals (through word of mouth, physicians, key community members and organizations), transportation advertisement, print media and social media.The public health significance of this thesis is that it provides the field with a curriculum to increase physical activity in a newly emerging Latino community.

[发布机构] the University of Pittsburgh