The Social Meanings of Food project is documenting and describing the larger, cultural meanings of food preparation and consumption within the Hispanic communities in SE Idaho.  Ethnographic interviews and filming are being carried out with participants and are being used to triangulate nutritional and physiological data in order to better understand eating patterns, obesity and activity patterns in type 2 diabetics and their families.

Exercise: A Cross-cultural Comparison about the Beliefs and Perceptions of health behaviors between the Hispanic and Anglo communities of Southeast Idaho. The intention of this project is to better understand health behavior perceptions in Southeast Idaho community. It is anticipated that the information retrieved from this project will shift health behavior programming toward a more culturally appropriate and successful approach.

The Health, Education and Housing Needs of Migrant Farmworkers in Polson, Montana. Using qualitative and quantitative data this project describes the social conditions of the migrant farmworkers who harvest the cherry crop in Polson, Montana. Difficult working and living conditions compound the health and education problems that face these temporary workers.

For more information on the research being done at Hispanic Health Projects or to request our services, contact Dr. Liz Cartwright, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, ISU
Email Dr. Elizabeth Cartwright, RN, PhD

Known physical risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:

• obesity,
• high cholesterol,
• high blood pressure,
• and to some degree, age.

The highest risk factors are associated with obesity,
which may not only cause problems with an individual’s cholesterol and blood pressure, but may also lead to difficulty metabolizing sugars in the blood. High blood sugar is an indicator that the body either isn’t producing enough insulin, the hormone that helps metabolize blood sugar, or that the body has become resistant to insulin.

To View the rest of this article and the maps that go with it:

Mapping Hispanic Risk

Presenting our Research

Ethnographic Documentaries

The HHP creates educational and documentary videos by and for the local Hispanic community.  The videos are used by the health promoters in their in-home educational visits and in local hospitals and clinics.  They are also shown at local film festivals. Videos presented on this site are at a lower resolution and smaller size for viewing online. Information is proved with each video window on how to order the movie.
(Videos can be seen under the link for Ethnographic Documentaries on the left side of this page)

Educational Materials

Posters and flyers are created and used during Health Conferences to teach community members and Health Care providers about the research being done by Hispanic Health Projects team members.
(Posters and brochures will be availabe shortly for viewing. Please check back often for updates)