Strengthening Chronic Disease Prevention and Management in American Samoa: Data-Driven and Culturally Tailored Approaches - Project Abstract American Samoa faces an alarmingly high prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and tobacco-related illnesses. These chronic conditions are amplified by unique cultural, economic, and environmental factors, such as widespread obesity, heavy reliance on imported processed foods, limited healthcare infrastructure, and traditional lifestyle practices that influence dietary habits. Tobacco use, particularly among youth and adults, further compounds these challenges, contributing significantly to the territory’s morbidity, mortality, and economic strain. In response, the American Samoa Department of Health (ASDOH) proposes a five-year initiative focused on implementing culturally tailored, evidence-based strategies to reduce the prevalence of NCDs, mitigate risk factors, and promote equitable access to prevention and management services. Core components include expanding diabetes prevention and management programs, strengthening tobacco control policies, improving healthcare systems, and fostering community-based interventions. The strategy leverages data-driven approaches and partnerships with local, regional, and national organizations to ensure impactful, sustainable outcomes. ASDOH’s history of public health leadership provides a strong foundation for this proposal. Successful efforts such as the Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) programs, the 2018 and 2023 NCD Hybrid Surveys, and culturally relevant public awareness campaigns underscore its capacity to address these challenges. This plan integrates the Fa’a Samoa framework, emphasizing community engagement and traditional values, and incorporates the expertise of key collaborators, including the American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition (ASCCC), Pacific Island Health Officers Association (PIHOA), and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD). Additionally, the proposal prioritizes underserved populations, ensuring that interventions address systemic barriers and promote health equity. Over the next five years, ASDOH aims to achieve transformative improvements in health outcomes across the territory by reducing the prevalence of NCDs, decreasing tobacco use rates among youth and adults, and improving A1C levels among adults with diabetes. Additional goals include promoting evidence-based cessation services, reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, and enhancing public awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and the benefits of smoke-free environments. Community engagement will be fostered through stakeholder workshops, coalition-building, and culturally tailored education campaigns, while strategic policy, system, and environmental (PSE) changes address root causes and mitigate NCD risk factors. This bold and strategic effort addresses the root causes of chronic diseases in American Samoa, empowering communities to adopt healthier behaviors. With CDC support, ASDOH is committed to delivering sustainable solutions that improve quality of life for all residents while positioning the territory as a model for culturally responsive public health innovation in the Pacific region.
