Washington County Amish Health Fairs
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2020-04-24
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There are six different Amish communities in Washington County. Due to their religious and cultural beliefs the Amish do not seek out healthcare unless all other resources are exhausted. Because of this barrier, the Amish community does not receive appropriate healthcare, screenings, and prevention education. To reduce the healthcare disparities that Washington county’s Amish were experiencing, IUS senior nursing students partnered with the Washington County Health Department to provide a mobile health fair to four Amish community schools. Ninety-two students were screened, ranging in ages from six to fourteen years old. In addition, nine teachers and parents/aids ranging in ages twenty-one to twenty-seven were screened. The health fair offered the different health services of measuring height and weight, blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, respirations, oxygen saturation, blood glucose, and hemoglobin. Additional testing offered included the Snellen eye chart, Ishihara eye chart, and a scoliosis screening. The screenings provided during the health fair identified at risk individuals that would benefit from further healthcare referral and information on resources available to them. Nine students were referred to follow up with the health department within one month for low hemoglobin levels. Nine students were referred to the community optometrist/health department for possible red/green or blue/green deficiency color blindness. The health fairs also provided education on basic preventative health maintenance such as handwashing and dental hygiene, which was done using interactive learning opportunities. After the teaching was completed, each participant screened received a brown paper bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, band-aids, pencil, erasers, bubbles, play doh, stickers, and candy. This poster will present the logistics of how the four Amish community health fairs were performed and the positive applications for the future health of their entire community.
2020 winner of "The Social Sciences Award for Community or Civic Engagement"
2020 winner of "The Social Sciences Award for Community or Civic Engagement"
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