Alicia Duval completed a practicum in Brazil through Baylor University's MPH program with the goal of empowering local churches to develop health promotion programs. She implemented various health education materials and lessons on sexual health for adolescents. Through this work, she formed new partnerships within the community and strengthened skills in health education planning and program implementation. The practicum helped provide health education resources to underserved areas and promote wellness through health fairs that screened for indicators like blood pressure and glucose levels.

1. Baylor in Brazil: Sexual Health
Alicia Duval
Dr. Eva Doyle PhD, MSEd, CHES, Practicum Supervisor, Baylor University
MPH in Community Health Education
Background Practicum Activities Outcomes
Recommendations and Insights
ImplicationsPracticum Goals
Practicum Site: Espírito Santo, Brazil
Population: underserved, middle-class
communities in Vitória and Anchieta
Purpose: To equip and empower local
churches to develop health promotion
programs for their community members
•Implemented health education materials
in many mediums
•Formed new partnerships with
community members
•Strengthened public speaking skills
•Gained experience in multiple health
education competencies
•Gained insight about Brazilian culture
Goal 1: Gain experience and cultivate
skills in health education planning
Goal 2: To gain experience in
implementing a training program for a
church-based health promotion program
Goal 3: To serve as a health education
resource person for community members
Goal 4: To communicate and advocate for
health and health education •Expand program to include 7th, 8th, and
9th graders
•Evaluate BiB work in both school and
church settings
•Health education materials implemented
to promote wellness
•Health education is a focused ministry
for local churches
•Strengthened old and new partnerships
1. Planned and implemented health
education in underserved communities
• Instructor of health education lessons
for adolescents
• Focus: sexual health, sexually
transmitted diseases
2. Partnered with local churches, schools,
and community members
• New partnerships formed
• Health promotion presentations for
church members
3. Coordinated health fairs to promote
wellness in underserved communities
• Blood pressure, glucose,
height/weight, waist-to-hip ratio
4. Served on the BiB coordinating team
• Taught four lectures in Global Health
• Supervised undergraduate students
Figure 2: Face painting at a children’s
health fair
Figure 1: Teaching adolescents about sexual health
Figure 3: Checking blood glucose
levels at a health fair
Figure 4: Children enjoying games at the health fair