The Santo Domingo Pueblo Kewa Health Outreach Program (KHOP) is a tribal program that is community-based. KHOP started a physical activity focused diabetes health program in 1999 and has since been able to expand community partner reach and available program activities with SDPI funds. We have 23 years of diabetes prevention education experience addressing risk factors of diabetes.
Santo Domingo Pueblo is a designated food desert with little access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The pueblo has 621 homes with over 5,500 residents, of whom KHOP was able to reach 850 with program activities and reaching all homes with health education through monthly newsletters.
The diabetes needs assessment summary highlights the need for education and support for complications from diabetes (vision loss, amputations, and dental issues). Additional risk factors of diabetes that emerged from the assessment is needing assistance with addressing hypertension symptoms (dizziness, vision blurriness, etc.). The community has had an increased number of falls that lead to injury due to hypertension.
The Diabetes Prevalence Estimate (B1.2) does not represent accurate prevalence estimations since it is based on SDHC data. Many of Kewa diabetes patients choose to seek primary care at medical facilities in Santa Fe and/or Albuquerque (25-40 miles distance). The more accurate diabetes prevalence can be drawn from the NM Department of Health (NMDOH) County level data for American Indians in New Mexico (NMDOH, 2022). The Diabetes prevalence of Diabetes Deaths (Deaths per 100,000 population, age-adjusted, 2018-2020) is listed as 71.1 for American Indian in NM, compared to 26.9 for all races/ethnicities in New Mexico, and 22.6 compared to US wide data.
The 2022 Audit highlighted highlights Type 2 Diabetes (96%), Obesity (45%), and Physical Activity (21%) and issues that need to be addressed. KHOP has identified the Lack of Nutritious Food, Transportation, Location, and Other challenges that have impacted the success of our program. KHOP continues to expand tribal leadership support and has experienced minimal staff turnover within the last grant period.