The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #55694

Amy A Eyler, PhD, School of Public Health, Saint Louis University, Prevention Research Center, 3545 Lafayette Ave., St. Louis, MO 63104, 636-391-7532, eyleras@accessus.net, Dyann Matson Koffman, PhD, Cardiovascular Health Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE Mailstop K47, Atlanta, GA 30341, Barbara E. Ainsworth, PhD, MPH, Prevention Research Center, University of South Carolina, Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, Kelly Evenson, PhD, Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Bank of America Plaza, Suite 306, 137 East Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC 27514, Bonnie Sanderson, PhD, University of Alabama-Birmingham, 307 LHRB UAB, 701 South 19th St, Birmingham, AL 35294, Janice Thompson, PhD, Dept. of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Native American Diabetes Programs, 1720 Louisiana Blvd., Suite 312, Albuquerque, NM 87110, and Deborah Rohm Young, PhD, Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland-College Park, HHP bldg 2312, College Park, MD 20742.

Background: Physical activity is an important part of cardiovascular disease prevention, especially in population groups with a high prevalence of this disease. For the past 3 years, the Women’s Cardiovascular Health Network made significant contributions to the study of physical activity and women from diverse racial/ethnic groups. Methods: In 1999, 7 universities across the US were funded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to study barriers to physical activity among diverse groups of women aged 20-50. African American, Latina, American Indian, and white women were represented. The network team researched and published a thorough literature review on the topic, and conducted, analyzed and published findings from 42 focus groups. Also, the team implemented and analyzed a quantitative survey of over 4200 women. Results: The literature review identified the lack of research with diverse groups of women and physical activity. Main findings from the focus groups included the priority of family and caregiving , low social support, and lack of personal safety as barriers to physical activity. Cultural barriers varied by group. In the quantitative survey, few correlates showed consistent results across sites, but personal and social correlates remained significant factors. Most groups suggested interventions that included access to physical activity facilities geared toward women. Conclusion: This project is a successful example of how large research studies can be conducted across sites and populations. Overall results reveal multiple factors at the personal, social, and environmental levels are associated with physical activity. These results can be used to tailor assessments and physical activity interventions among women from diverse populations.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Attendees will be able to describe the methods used in this project.
• 2. Attendees will be able to list at least one important correlate of physical activity from each population group studied in this network project.

Keywords: Minorities, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.