Grant: Operating Grant

Aboriginal youth represent a significant and growing population in Canada and have much to offer in terms of their contributions to their own health and the health and wellness of others. At the same time, they are at a greater risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and obesity than non-Aboriginal youth. Few school based programs have been developed and tested that are aimed at reducing the risk for T2D Aboriginal youth, especially those living in rural communities. Fewer still involve interventions that are peer-led and reliant upon the strengths, energy and talents of the youth themselves. Building on the successes of a communal, relationship based approach to Aboriginal youth mentoring in an after school physical activity program (AYMP), we are evaluating a peer-led approach for diabetes prevention. First Nations high school students volunteer as mentors, and develop an after-school program that they then deliver to children in grade 4. The mentors meet twice a week. The first day, they develop an activity plan and decide roles and responsibilities to ensure successful delivery of each activity. The second day, they deliver the program to the grade 4s, which incorporates a healthy snack, 45-minutes of physical activity, and educational games/activities. Our primary goal is to determine the health benefits of AYMP; guided by our youth mentors and community advisors, we will also develop a number of research questions that will help us to better understand the social, emotional, physical and spiritual outcomes of the peer-led mentor program. To answer these questions, we will train community members in both qualitative and quantitative methods. The quantitative outcomes of this study include physical activity, waist circumference, obesity rates, and self-esteem. Qualitative methods may include photovoice and focus group interviews. All of these will be used to assess the social determinants of health and contextual features of the program.