Bethel

Heart disease is a major cause of death among Alaska Native people, especially Yup'ik communities, where heart disease rates are higher than the U.S. average. This research evaluates a culturally adapted program called Diet and Active Lifestyle - Yuuyaraq (DAiLY) aimed at reducing heart disease risk by encouraging healthier eating habits and increased physical activity that align with Yup'ik traditions and values. The intervention is based on long-standing community partnerships and focuses on promoting traditional subsistence foods, healthy store-bought foods, and active lifestyles. The DAiLY intervention lasts two years and includes three main parts: home-based workshops led by trained community members to teach about nutrition and physical activity; modifications in local food stores to increase availability and promotion of healthy food options; and community events such as traditional dance, sports, and berry festivals to encourage physical activity. Participants also receive Fitbits to track their activity and stay motivated. Social media, text messaging, and visual materials support and reinforce these activities throughout the intervention. Participants will provide fasting blood samples and undergo measurements of weight, blood pressure, and waist circumference to assess heart disease risk. Physical activity will be monitored with accelerometers, and participants will complete questionnaires about diet, wellness, and traditional activities. Data will also be collected on food store sales and availability of healthy foods, as well as community physical activity opportunities. The study spans a total of two years, comparing immediate and delayed intervention communities, and includes ongoing evaluation of implementation, participant engagement, and community impact.

Researchers are studying Alaska Native children in the Yukon-Kuskokwim (YK) Delta who experience a high rate of respiratory illness. The focus is on how poor indoor air quality, caused by wood stove use, tobacco smoke, and poor ventilation, affects these children's health. The study aims to evaluate whether using high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers can reduce indoor particulate matter (PM2.5) and improve air quality in homes, especially those with woodstoves or smokers. Participants will receive a Winix HEPA air purifier device to use in their homes. The study lasts 12 weeks during which families will set up and operate air monitoring equipment to measure indoor air quality. They will also report weekly on the child's respiratory symptoms by phone or text. After the 12 weeks, families will return the air monitoring devices but keep the HEPA air purifiers. Families invited to participate will have a child under 5 years old living in a home that uses woodstoves or has smokers. The study team will monitor indoor PM2.5 levels as the primary outcome. Participants are asked to regularly report symptoms, and the study includes setting up equipment, running it for the full period, and returning monitors for evaluation. The study aims to better understand how HEPA purifiers impact indoor air quality and child respiratory health in rural Alaska homes.