Parallel Track Planning of a Physical Activity and Nutrition Program for new African migrants in South Australia

Chronic disease and the related determinants of poor health are inequitably distributed, with migrant populations being disproportionately disadvantaged. Poor health literacy and other barriers have been attributed to poor health outcomes and insufficient access to health and social services among migrant population groups. As newly arrived minority populations, Africans are disadvantaged on many frontiers, including health. This paper describes the conceptual design and planning of the Physical Activity and Nutrition project (PAN) for African migrants in Adelaide, South Australia. The project aimed to provide physical activities, nutrition-based programs and health education sessions to combat chronic disease and address inequalities within the African community. The project was designed using a parallel track planning model and used both the conventional chronic disease management and community empowerment strategies. Through parallel track planning, strategies including community participation, community empowerment and chronic disease management were employed to implement the project. Several culturally respectful physical activity and nutrition programs were established. In order to enhance the accessibility of healthy foods, participants were supported to start home and community vegetable gardens. Thus parallel track planning empowered the community to take control and manage their chronic health conditions. In addition, the project provided the opportunity to educate service providers such as General Practitioners (GPs) about multiple health issues in the community. Consequently, GPs learned about cultural and other issues, resulting in the provision of culturally appropriate services. As a result of the project's development, communities began to access project activities. There was also a notable increase in accessing existing social and health services in South Australia by Africans. The present study provides a framework for effective, collaborative and sustainable public health interventions amongst culturally diverse migrant group. This community based project empowered communities by providing individuals and families the opportunity to participate in project activities. These preventative services also addressed inequities of access to health programs for minority and disadvantaged communities.