Abstract

Black and Latina Women's Perspective on Physical Activity in South Los Angeles, California

Felipe Ocampo, MPH¹, Yadira Bribiesca Leon, MPH², Micaela Torres, MPH³, Karen Kwaning, MPH⁴, Mayra I. Lucas , MPH⁴, Alma R. Lopez, BS⁵, Charnise R. Taylor, MS⁶, Gerardo Moreno, MD, MS⁵ (1)Charles Drew University; UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, (2)UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, (3)Charles Drew University; UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , (4)UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , (5)UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, (6)Charles Drew University; UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine

APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo

Background:
Physical inactivity contributes to chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Black and Latinx adults are nearly 15% less likely to meet physical activity (PA) guidelines than White adults. Los Angeles (LA) Service Planning Area 6, with a 27.4% Black and 68.2% Latinx population, experiences one of LA county's highest cardiovascular disease and obesity rates. Physical inactivity is a likely contributor. This study investigated perceived barriers and facilitators to PA among Black and Latina women in LA and explored themes using the socio-ecological model (SEM) and health belief model (HBM).

Methods:
Participants were recruited using purposive sampling at two South LA federally qualified health centers. Two English (n=6 Black women) and two Spanish focus groups (n=11 Latina women) were conducted between January and February 2019. The coding team (medical students and a primary care physician with qualitative research expertise) conducted a thematic content analysis. Codes were created both inductively through transcript review to capture emergent ideas in the data and deductively from the focus group guide. Coders conferred to reach consensus. Coders developed themes, organized according to the SEM, using codes mentioned by a majority of participants to enhance validity through triangulation. The HBM was used to explain how barriers and facilitators might impact PA.

Results:
Five major themes emerged across focus groups’ perspectives on PA. At the individual level, spirituality served as a motivator whereas competing priorities, like the need for childcare, were barriers to PA. Interpersonal-level themes included motivation to be around others and healthcare provider support. Community-level themes included lack of neighborhood and park safety as barriers to PA. Participants recommended making fitness classes and park amenities more accessible to increase PA. Differences in themes across socio-ecological levels between English and Spanish speaking focus groups also emerged.

Conclusions:
These findings further our understanding that barriers and facilitators to PA among urban underserved minority women, stem from structural determinants of health at socio-ecological levels beyond the individual level and may be explained by various aspects of the HBM. Future interventions to increase PA in such populations should address these sources of inequity.