A qualitative study of the role of Samoan Church ministers in health literacy messages and health promotion in Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract

Objective: Health promotion and health literacy activities within church congregations are not a new concept; however, this has not yet been widely researched in New Zealand. This paper explores the views of Samoan Methodist Church ministers about health-related issues and their role in health promotion and health literacy in their churches. Methods: This was a qualitative research study with Samoan Methodist Church ministers from Auckland, New Zealand. Ten participants were interviewed face-to-face using a semi-structured approach. A general inductive approach for analysis of qualitative data was utilised. Ethics approval was granted by the University of Auckland Human Participants Ethics Committee. Results: All of the church ministers described a holistic view of health and had a sense of responsibility for the holistic wellbeing of their members. Culture was seen as the main barrier to good health. Most of the ministers identified their role in health promotion as being associated with an external health provider. Conclusion: Church ministers are well-respected leaders in the Samoan Church, which helps them play an important role in communicating health-promoting messages and encouraging healthy behaviours. The elders and chiefs are recognised as the cultural leaders in the church; without their support, the cultural barriers to health will be difficult to overcome. Implications for public health: Church ministers are important in health literacy messages and health promotion.

Attitudes to noise and behaviour towards hearing protection among Pasifika university students in New Zealand

“…One strategy would be to develop interventions with church leaders, elders and Chiefs. They are seen to positively influence social norms and health-related behaviour among Pasifika communities (Hopoi and Nosa 2020).…”

Sickle Cell Disease Awareness and Perception Among Christian Religious Leaders in Accra Metropolis: A Qualitative Study

“…While they may not be quali ed genetic counselors themselves, they can facilitate the process by inviting quali ed professionals to conduct these services within the church premises or by referring their congregants to external counseling centers. Additionally, evidence suggests that religious institutions, predominantly churches, disseminate evidence-based health activities for non-communicable diseases such as SCD (Bopp & Fallon, 2013;Heward-Mills et al, 2018;Hopoi & Nosa, 2020;Osafo et al, 2021). It is essential to prevent SCD, and Christian religious leaders may be active stakeholders in SCD prevention through their involvement in awareness creation activities with their congregants, the promotion of genetic counseling, and genotype screening for the entire congregants, speci cally among premarital couples.…”