West Side churches team up with hospital to fight high blood pressure among Black Chicagoans

A community-based intervention aims to reduce blood pressure among congregants of several area churches

By closing the gap between medical research and community needs

Black Chicagoans have a life expectancy of nine years less than other Chicago residents, and a big factor is uncontrolled high blood pressure, which is significantly more prevalent in Chicago’s African American population than among other groups.

For clarity, the characters’ speech balloon quotes that are shaded in light pink come directly from their interviews with Neufeld. The white speech balloons represent indirect quotes — such as when one person recalled what another person said during a community health visit. The text in yellow caption boxes represents the narrative.

This comic is co-published under a Creative Commons license with The Journalist’s Resource, a project of Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy that commissioned the work.

The community-based intervention

The Alive Faith Network coalition of churches on the West Side is working with Rush University Medical Center to reduce blood pressure among the congregants of several area churches. The community-based intervention is designed to address the root causes of high blood pressure and to provide support and resources to help individuals manage their condition.

How it works

The community-based intervention involves several components, including:

• Community health workers who visit congregants in their homes to provide support and resources
• Group sessions led by trained facilitators to discuss stress management, healthy eating, and physical activity
• Individual counseling sessions to help congregants set and achieve their health goals
• Referrals to community resources, such as health clinics and support groups

Conclusion

The community-based intervention is a unique approach to addressing the high prevalence of high blood pressure in Chicago’s African American community. By working together with community organizations and healthcare providers, we can reduce the burden of this chronic condition and improve the overall health and well-being of our community.

FAQs

Q: Who is eligible to participate in the community-based intervention?

A: The community-based intervention is open to congregants of the participating churches who are 18 years or older and have a diagnosis of high blood pressure.

Q: How do I get involved in the community-based intervention?

A: To get involved in the community-based intervention, contact your