 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
JoEllen Wilbur, PhD, RN, FAAN, Peggy Chandler, PhD, Barbara Dancy, PhD, RN, FAAN, Mary Buntin, MS, MPH, RN, and Hyeonkyeong Lee, MS. College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 S. Damen, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-9967980, JWilbur@uic.edu
Background. Being physically active is one of the most strongly supported behaviors known to prevent cardiovascular disease, but more African American and Latina than Caucasian women report minimal to no leisure physical activity and the gap is greatest in persons with less than a high school education. Factors that influence physical activity in ethnic/minority women are largely unknown. The purpose is to identify personal, social environmental and physical environmental correlates of physical activity of urban African American and Latina women. Methods. A quantitative survey based on information from 44 focus groups covering correlates of physical activity was developed in collaboration with 7 universities comprising the Women's Cardiovascular Health Network. Open-ended questions probed suggestions for interventions. Face-to-face interviews were administered to female volunteers, aged 20-50, living in predominately African American or Latina Chicago communities. Logistic regressions were used to examine the relationship between physical activity and its correlates for each group. Results. Data were collected on 399 African Americans and 300 Latinas. Forty-eight percent of African Americans and 36% of Latinas met current physical activity recommendations. More active African Americans had higher education, were in better health, knew people who exercised, and lived in safe neighborhoods. More active Latinas were younger, married, more confident, had exercisers in the neighborhood, attended church and lived in heavy traffic areas. Conclusions. The results support the importance of addressing all correlates of physical activity including personal, social and environmental as well as examining how they may differ for ethnic/racial groups living in similar communities.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Physical Activity,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.