Feria de Salud: implementation and evaluation of a communitywide health fair

Evaluating the effectiveness of community interventions is a major responsibility for community health nurses (CHNs). Without evidence of the effectiveness of interventions, their impact on the health status of populations or communities cannot be determined. This article presents the planning, implementation, and evaluation processes of a communitywide health fair. This fair was held in a suburban community of approximately 12,000 individuals, located 20 kilometers outside of Mexico City. The health fair was one component of a collaborative project aimed at addressing the overall health needs of the community. Emphasis is on the development and utilization of measurable objectives in evaluating both processes and outcomes of the health fair. Green and Kreuter's (1991) PRECEDE-PROCEED program planning model provided direction for program planning and evaluation. The findings of process, impact, and outcome evaluation are described, providing both qualitative and quantitative measures of program effectiveness. These findings provide direction for program replication and modification. Recommendations address the utility of theory-based assessment, program planning, and evaluation, the importance of formative evaluation, and the need for cultural sensitivity in community health program planning.