title: Environmental, policy, and cultural factors related to physical activity among Latina immigrants.
abstract: According to national surveillance studies, participation in leisure-time physical activity remains low among minority women. Furthermore, the correlates of such activity in this group are not well understood. To better understand the environmental, policy, and sociocultural correlates of physical activity among Latina immigrants, six focus groups were conducted in rural North Carolina. Among the 49 participants, median age was 32 years and median education 11 years. Participants were first generation immigrants from Mexico (n = 43), El Salvador (n = 3), Colombia (n = 1), the Dominican Republic (n = 1), and Honduras (n = 1). Environmental and policy barriers to activity were identified, including transportation, lack of facilities, cost, and safety. Sociocultural correlates of activity included gender roles for activity, importance of support from the family and husband, child care issues tied to having few relatives who lived close by, language, and isolation in the community. The women suggested changes and programs that could promote physical activity through multiple channels, especially involving the family. This information can be used to develop culturally appropriate interventions to increase physical activity among Latinas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 137 East Franklin Street, Suite 306, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, USA. kelly_evenson@unc.edu
authors.forename: Kelly R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Evenson
authors.forename: Olga L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Sarmiento
authors.forename: M Lisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Macon
authors.forename: Kathy W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Tawney
authors.forename: Alice S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ammerman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003469:Culture; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009657:North Carolina; D012423:Rural Health; D012931:Social Environment; D016387:Women's Health