title: Assessing environmental support for better health: active living opportunity audits in rural communities in the southern United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Leisure-time physical activity in the United States is lower rural areas and the South and has been linked to socioeconomic and environmental aspects of where people live. The purpose of this study is to assess the built environment and policies for physical activity in rural communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight rural communities in Alabama and Mississippi were assessed in 2011 using the Rural Active Living Assessment (RALA) street segment (SSA), town-wide (TWA), and town program and policies (PPA) assessment tools. Community Health Advisors Trained as Research Partners (CHARPS) and local staff conducted the assessments. The TWA and PPA were scored by domain and total scores. Data were analyzed using descriptive and nonparametric statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  117 segments were assessed in 22 towns in 8 counties. Built environmental barriers existed in all communities. Sidewalks were available in only 10-40% of the segments. TWA identified parks and playgrounds as the most available community feature. PPA scores indicated few policies for physical activity outside of school settings with mean scores higher in Mississippi compared to Alabama (61 vs. 49, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multiple components of rural communities can be successfully assessed by CHARPs using RALA tools, providing information about resources and barriers for physical activity.
authors: School of Nursing, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA. Electronic address: jcrobinson@umc.edu.
authors: Jennifer C
authors: JC
authors: Robinson
authors: Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors: Tiffany L
authors: TL
authors: Carson
authors: Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors: Erica R
authors: ER
authors: Johnson
authors: Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors: Claudia M
authors: CM
authors: Hardy
authors: Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors: James M
authors: JM
authors: Shikany
authors: Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Green
authors: American Cancer Society, Inc., Hattiesburg, MS, USA.
authors: Lillie M
authors: LM
authors: Willis
authors: Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors: John V
authors: JV
authors: Marron
authors: Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors: Yufeng
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors: Choo Hyung
authors: CH
authors: Lee
authors: Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors: Monica L
authors: ML
authors: Baskin
mesh_terms: D000407:Alabama; D004779:Environment Design; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008922:Mississippi; D011640:Public Policy; D012423:Rural Health
keywords: African Americans; Deep South Network for Cancer Control; Environment; Health status disparities; Physical activity; Rural health