African American Pastor perspectives on the LADIES project: : A Qualitative Study

African American women experience higher rates of obesity and chronic disease states in comparison to other racial groups. Faith based programs to address these disparities have increased in recent years. African American pastors are particularly influential within the church and surrounding community. The purpose of this qualitative study was to obtain pastor perceptions of a physical activity intervention (i.e., the LADIES study) for women. Design: Thirty-one churches were randomized to faith-based, non-faith based, or self guided programs for 10 months and followed for an additional 12-months post intervention (22 months total). Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven pastors from churches that completed the 22 month study. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Thematic analyses were used to examine data. Results:  Themes associated with the intervention outcomes were: increased health consciousness, fellowship among program participants, and reinforcement of internal health ministry efforts. Themes pertaining to issues of health status in the church were: culture of risky health behaviors, need for holistic approaches to health, and leadership roles of pastors. Conclusion: Pastors are aware of health issues affecting their parishioners and are encouraging organizational policies to support a culture of health.  Although the LADIES program was a physical activity intervention, pastors spoke of multiple dimensions of health as vital to the success of health programs. Findings have implications for both church and local policy as health departments and other agencies seek to partner with faith-based organizations.