title: Start small, dream big: Experiences of physical activity in public spaces in Colombia.
abstract: Multi-sectoral strategies to promote active recreation and physical activity in public spaces are crucial to building a "culture of health". However, studies on the sustainability and scalability of these strategies are limited. This paper identifies the factors related to the sustainability and scaling up of two community-based programs offering physical activity classes in public spaces in Colombia: Bogotá's Recreovía and Colombia's "Healthy Habits and Lifestyles Program-HEVS". Both programs have been sustained for more than 10years, and have benefited 1455 communities. We used a mixed-methods approach including semi-structured interviews, document review and an analysis of data regarding the programs' history, characteristics, funding, capacity building and challenges. Interviews were conducted between May-October 2015. Based on the sustainability frameworks of Shediac-Rizkallah and Bone and Scheirer, we developed categories to independently code each interview. All information was independently analyzed by four of the authors and cross-compared between programs. Findings showed that these programs underwent adaptation processes to address the challenges that threatened their continuation and growth. The primary strategies included flexibility/adaptability, investing in the working conditions and training of instructors, allocating public funds and requesting accountability, diversifying resources, having community support and champions at different levels and positions, and carrying out continuous advocacy to include physical activity in public policies. Recreovía and HEVS illustrate sustainability as an incremental, multi-level process at different levels. Lessons learned for similar initiatives include the importance of individual actions and small events, a willingness to start small while dreaming big, being flexible, and prioritizing the human factor.
authors: Salud Transversal-Consulting, Bogotá, Colombia; School of Medicine, Group of Epidemiology at the Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia. Electronic address: adiazdelc@gmail.com.
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Díaz Del Castillo
authors: School of Medicine, Group of Epidemiology at the Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors: Silvia Alejandra
authors: SA
authors: González
authors: School of Medicine, Group of Epidemiology at the Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors: Ana Paola
authors: AP
authors: Ríos
authors: School of Medicine, Group of Epidemiology at the Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors: Diana C
authors: DC
authors: Páez
authors: School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Torres
authors: School of Medicine, Group of Epidemiology at the Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors: María Paula
authors: MP
authors: Díaz
authors: Institute for Public Health, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, United States.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Pratt
authors: School of Medicine, Group of Epidemiology at the Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors: Olga L
authors: OL
authors: Sarmiento
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057191:Capacity Building; D003105:Colombia; D004779:Environment Design; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011633:Public Facilities; D011998:Recreation / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Colombia; Community programs; Physical activity; Program sustainability; Public space; Scaling up