Systematic exposure to recreation centers increases use by Latino families with young children.
BACKGROUND
Living near community recreation centers (CRC) is associated with increases in adolescent and adult physical activity, but the efficacy of efforts to increase use among Latino parents and young children is unknown. We hypothesized that Latino parent-child dyads with exposure to a CRC through culturally tailored programming would be more likely to use the facility for physical activity a year after programming ended than dyads living in the same geographic area who were not exposed to the programming.


METHODS
Self-identified Latino parent-child dyads who had participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a culturally tailored healthy lifestyle program and completed a 12-month follow-up assessment constituted the "exposed" group (n = 66). The "unexposed" group included 62 parent-child dyads living in the same zip codes as the exposed group, all within a 5-mile radius of the CRC. Participants completed in-person structured interviews.


RESULTS
Approximately two-thirds of exposed parents reported more than monthly use of the CRC for themselves a year after programming ended, compared to one-third of unexposed Latino families with the same geographic access (χ(2) = 11.26, p < 0.01). Parents in the exposed group were four times more likely than the unexposed group to use the CRC with their children on a monthly basis (odds ratio = 4.18, p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
CRCs that develop culturally tailored programs that invite Latino families inside can increase sustained CRC use for physical activity in this population at heightened risk for childhood obesity.
Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Eli K
EK
Po'e
Cassandra
C
Neureiter
Juan
J
Escarfuller
Sabina B
SB
Gesell
Tommaso
T
Tempesti
Paul
P
Widman
Shari L
SL
Barkin
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003256:Community Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D011633:Public Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011998:Recreation