Health Works for Women
An Evidence-Based Practice
This practice has been Archived and is no longer maintained.
Description
Health Works for Women (HWW) is a worksite health promotion project that helps low-income and minority women receive information, guidance, and support to make behavioral changes related to nutrition, physical activity, smoking, and stress. In the HWW model, lay health advisors are trained to form worksite health promotion support networks and educate their peers about reducing their health risk behaviors. Women receive personalized tailored health information about each health behavior. In addition, employee wellness committees are formed at each worksite. The program sponsors healthy workplace and community health promotion activities such as health screenings, health fairs, and walking groups.
Goal / Mission
Health Works for Women aims to help low-income and minority women improve their health by eating healthier, being physically active, quitting smoking, and managing their stress.
Impact
This health promotion project was a successful model for blue collared women to obtain certain health behavior changes.
Results / Accomplishments
Research has shown that Health Works for Women is effective in helping women achieve their health goals and in changing certain health behaviors. In a randomized controlled trial the intervention group significantly increased their consumption of fruit and vegetables compared to no change in the control group. In addition, the intervention group showed declines in dietary fat intake. Women in the intervention group increased their average frequency of aerobic exercise and strength and flexibility exercise, compared with declines in the control group. In conclusion, the HWW project was shown to be successful for achieving certain health behavior changes among rural, blue-collar women workers.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
University of North Carolina's Center for Health Promotion
Primary Contact
No current contact information available
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Wellness & Lifestyle
Health / Women's Health
Health / Wellness & Lifestyle
Health / Women's Health
Organization(s)
University of North Carolina's Center for Health Promotion
Date of publication
2002
Location
North Carolina
For more details
Target Audience
Women, Racial/Ethnic Minorities