ArticlePloS one2019
Development, feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of a healthy lifestyle programme delivered in churches in urban and rural South Africa.
Article in PloS one, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Effectiveness of obesity interventions in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analyses.PloS one · 2025Pooled it
- Multisectoral interventions for urban health in Africa: a mixed-methods systematic review.Global health action · 2024Pooled it
- Conducting co-creation for public health in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review and key informant perspectives on implementation barriers and facilitators.Globalization and health · 2024Pooled it
- Perceptions and Perspectives of Mission-Involved Members on Lifestyle, Non-communicable Diseases, and Health Promotion in Seventh-Day Adventist Churches in Argentina.Journal of religion and health · 2026Article
- The perspectives of Lagos faith-institution leaders on health, hypertension, and faith-based hypertension interventions: a qualitative interview study.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Community acceptability of cardiovascular risk screening in faith centres in the Kassena-Nankana districts of Northern Ghana: a qualitative study.BMC public health · 2025Article
- "We don't care because we are not sick": understanding youths perceptions of hypertension in urban South Africa.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Using places of worship to recruit and retain couples for the 'Diabetes Together' intervention.African journal of primary health care & family medicine · 2025Article
- Community-based models of care for adolescent and adult depression, suicidal behavior, anxiety, trauma, and substance use in Africa: a scoping review.Frontiers in psychology · 2024Article
- Exploring the barriers and facilitators towards physical activity among church members in Lagos, Nigeria: a qualitative study.African health sciences · 2023Article
- Cardiovascular health promotion: A systematic review involving effectiveness of faith-based institutions in facilitating maintenance of normal blood pressure.PLOS global public health · 2023Article
- Development, feasibility and potential effectiveness of community-based continuous mass dog vaccination delivery strategies: Lessons for optimization and replication.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Rising levels of obesity in South Africa require innovation in community-level lifestyle change programmes. Our aim was to co-develop Impilo neZenkolo ('Health through Faith'), a healthy lifestyle programme for low-income, black South Africans delivered through churches, and evaluate its feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness. In the first phase we developed programme materials with church members. In the second phase we trained lay leaders to deliver the programme and assessed feasibility, acceptability (observation, focus groups and interviews) and potential effectiveness (pre and post measurement of weight, hip and waist circumferences, blood pressure, self-reported physical activity, dietary habits, health status, self-esteem, psychological distress). The study was conducted in four churches in urban and rural South Africa. The development workshops led to increased focus on positive benefits of participation, widening inclusion criteria to all adults and greater emphasis on Christian ethos. Challenges to feasibility included: recruitment of churches; scheduling of programme sessions (leading to one church not delivering the programme); attendance at the programme (63% attended more than half of the 12 weekly sessions); and poor programme fidelity (in particular in teaching behaviour change techniques). Aspects of the programme were acceptable, particularly the way in which the programme was aligned with a Christian ethos. There was some indication that amongst the 42/68 (62%) for whom we were obtained pre- and post-programme measurements the programme has potential to support weight loss. We conclude that a healthy lifestyle programme for low-income, black South Africans, delivered through churches, may be viable with extensive re-development of delivery strategies. These include finding external funding for the programme, endorsement from national level denominational organisations and the professionalization of programme leadership, including paid rather than volunteer leaders to ensure sufficient time can be spent in training.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.