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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Michelle Colvard, MPH, Baylor College of Medicine, 6621 Fannin, MC 3-3320, Houston, TX 77030, 832-824-4651, mcolvard@bcm.tmc.edu and Margaret Nosek, PhD, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, BCM635, Houston, TX 77030.

Regular physical activity, particularly aerobic exercise, is known to be a salient factor in the prevention of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Women with physical disabilities (functional limitations) are at high risk for these and other secondary health conditions, yet constitute one of the most sedentary populations in the United States. While much is known about the barriers of physical activity for women with physical disabilities, the predictors of physical activity for this population remain largely unknown. Women with functional limitations may have physical activity determinants distinct from women in the general population. The identification of these correlates can better guide the development of health promotion interventions to address the problem of physical inactivity among these women. This study identified the various personal, psychosocial, behavioral, environmental, and disability-related correlates of aerobic physical activity among women with functional limitations using a secondary analysis of an existing dataset. Logistic regression analysis identified that a model consisting of severity of functional limitation, self-efficacy for aerobic physical activity, and limiting dietary fat is the most parsimonious and best-fitting predictive model of aerobic physical activity. Other predictors of physical activity include body mass index (BMI), combined household income, and other nutrition behaviors. While these determinants mirror the known predictors of physical activity for women in the general population, other known determinants for women that were explored in this analysis were not found to be significant aerobic physical activity correlates for women with functional limitations.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• List four determinants of aerobic physical activity for women with functional limitations.
• Evaluate differences in determinants of aerobic activity among women with and without physical disabilities.
• Recognize the implications of these differences for public health.

Keywords: Physical Activity, Disability

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No