title: Physical Activity Among Adolescents in an East Malaysian Rural Indigenous Community: Exploring the Influence of Neighborhood Environmental Factors.
abstract: This study explores the rural environmental factors that influence adolescents' participation in physical activities (PA). Thirty-six indigenous adolescents, aged 13 to 17 years from rural communities of East Malaysia were involved in the photovoice procedures: photo-taking, selecting, contextualizing, and codifying themes. Despite being endowed with natural resources such as river, forest, hills, and so on, the adolescents and the community did not capitalize on these rich resources to promote and engage in PA. Poor maintenance of natural resources, the lack of pedestrian infrastructures and road safety, the lack of PA facilities, and negative perception of ancestors' agricultural activities were among factors that constrained adolescents' PA. Although basic amenities such as play spaces and pedestrian infrastructures are necessary to increase adolescents' PA, any intervention should make the most of the natural resources, which are cheaper, environment friendly, and sustainable.
authors.affiliation: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia saimonrosalia@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rosalia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saimon
authors.affiliation: University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wan Yuen
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.affiliation: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kam Hock
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chirk Jenn
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Awang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulgiba
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D004779:Environment Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010465:Perception; D010781:Photography; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012449:Safety
keywords: adolescents; environmental factors; indigenous; photovoice; physical activity; rural community