title: A Pilot Examination of a Mosque-Based Physical Activity Intervention for South Asian Muslim Women in Ontario, Canada.
abstract: Low levels of physical activity have been reported in South Asian Muslim women. Mosques could be beneficial in providing physical activity opportunities for Muslim women. This study examined the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of a mosque-based physical activity program for South Asian Muslim women in Canada. Sixty-two South Asian Muslim women participated in a 24-week mosque-based exercise intervention. Feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of the program was evaluated by pre-post survey questions from the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire among 28 women who consented to the research data collection. Nineteen women were assessed pre-and post-intervention. The women demonstrated increase in median scores of self-efficacy (90 pre vs. 100 post; p = 0.004) and the importance of engaging in regular physical activity (90 pre vs. 100 post; p = 0.01). Fewer participants were classified as inactive at the end of the intervention (42 % pre vs. 10 % post; p = 0.006). There was a mean increase in DASI scores (39.2 pre vs. 44.6 post; p = 0.06) reflecting an improvement in peak aerobic capacity and functional quality of life. Culturally relevant structured networks such as mosques are important assets when designing healthy lifestyle interventions for South Asian Muslim women.
authors.affiliation: Women's Cardiovascular Health Initiative, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada. Ananya.Banerjee@wchospital.ca.|Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. Ananya.Banerjee@wchospital.ca.
authors.forename: Ananya Tina
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.affiliation: Women's Cardiovascular Health Initiative, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Mireille
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Landry
authors.affiliation: Women's Cardiovascular Health Initiative, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zawi
authors.affiliation: Women's Cardiovascular Health Initiative, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Childerhose
authors.affiliation: Flemingdon Health Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.affiliation: Flemingdon Health Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Ammara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shafique
authors.affiliation: Women's Cardiovascular Health Initiative, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Price
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001211:Asia, Western / Q000208:ethnology; D044466:Asian People; D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Intervention; Mosque; Physical activity promotion; South Asian Muslim women