ENHANCING DASH DIET ADHERENCE: A CULTURAL AND RESOURCE-TAILORED APPROACH FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Jake

Hypertension disproportionately affects African American women, increasing risk for cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and stroke. The DASH diet lowers blood pressure, but adherence is hindered by cultural food preferences, limited access to healthy foods, and affordability barriers. The study developed a culturally tailored DASH diet manual through a focus group with 11 midlife and older women, identifying themes and subthemes shaping adherence. Results emphasize culturally sensitive, practical support, including cooking skills, visual aids, and community-based interventions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Study aim

Methods

Findings and themes

Implications and future research

854 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.2891 ENHANCING DASH DIET ADHERENCE: A CULTURAL AND RESOURCE-TAILORED APPROACH FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN Angela Groves1, and Yasir Mehmood2, 1. Western Michigan University, Portage, Michigan, United States, 2. Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States Hypertension disproportionately affects African American women, placing them at a heightened risk for cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and stroke. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet lowers blood pressure, yet adherence is challenged by cultural food preferences, limited access to healthy foods, and affordability concerns. This study aimed to develop a culturally tailored DASH diet manual by engaging midlife and older African American women with hypertension to identify their food preferences, dietary practices, and available resources. Using a single-category focus group design, we recruited 11 participants from a church congregation in the Southwest United States. Key findings revealed six major themesand four subthemes influencing DASH diet adherence: (1) perspectives on diet, emphasizing sodium reduction and balanced nutrition; (2) awareness and education needs, including subthemes on (a) food label literacy and cooking skills and (b) tailoring materials for different reading levels; (3) community disparities in food access, with subthemes on (a) affordability challenges and (b) thrifty nutrition strategies; (4) challenges of Southern cooking traditions; (5) home appliance diversity in meal preparation; and (6) tailoring the DASH manual to dietary needs, including vegetarian and lactose-intolerant adaptations. Findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive interventions that integrate practical cooking skills, visual aids, and community-based support to improve adherence. Future research should explore culturally tailored DASH education programs, peer support models, and digital tools to enhance long-term adherence and blood pressure control among midlife and older African American women.

FAQs

What problem does the study address?

The study addresses hypertension risk among African American women and the barriers that reduce adherence to the DASH diet.

How was the culturally tailored DASH diet manual developed?

It was developed using a single-category focus group design with 11 midlife and older African American women recruited from a church congregation in the Southwest United States.

What factors influence DASH diet adherence according to the findings?

Six major themes with four subthemes were identified, including perspectives on diet, education needs (label literacy and cooking skills), community disparities in food access and affordability, challenges of Southern cooking traditions, home appliance diversity, and tailoring the manual to dietary needs.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Jake