title: Perception of Policy and Environmental Action to Promote Healthy Behaviors in African American Communities.
abstract: The present study aimed to examine the perceptions of African American communities regarding the involvement of political leaders in facilitating policy and environmental change promoting healthy eating and physical activity. We selected the Metro Jackson Area comprised of Hinds, Madison and Rankin Counties because it is a combination of urban and rural communities. The sample consisted of 70 participants from seven sites. A total of seven focus groups were asked to respond to one question to assess political leaders' involvement in healthy living: "When you think about your political leaders that you have in the Jackson, Mississippi area, do any of them promote healthy eating and physical activity?" Focus groups consisted of six to 12 participants and were asked to comment on their participation in physical activity. The focus group interviews were digitally recorded. The recorded interviews were transcribed by a professional transcriptionist. Community members could not recollect much participation from political leaders in the health prevention/intervention efforts. In each of the counties, there was evidence that there was some involvement by local politicians in health promotion issues, but not on a large scale. In conclusion, making healthy foods and products available in neighborhood stores has long been associated with healthy behaviors and positive health outcomes. This can make a difference in the Mississippi communities where supermarkets are not accessible and health disparities abound.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Minority Health and Health Disparities, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, 350 West Woodrow Wilson Drive, Suite, 2280, Jackson, MS 39213, USA. clifton.addison@jsums.edu.|Jackson Heart Study Community Outreach Center, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, 350 West Woodrow Wilson Drive, Suite, 2900B, Jackson, MS 39213, USA. clifton.addison@jsums.edu.|Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, 350 West Woodrow Wilson Drive, Suite, 2900B, Jackson, MS 39213, USA. clifton.addison@jsums.edu.
authors.forename: Clifton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Addison
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Minority Health and Health Disparities, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, 350 West Woodrow Wilson Drive, Suite, 2280, Jackson, MS 39213, USA. brenda.w.campbell@jsums.edu.|Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, 350 West Woodrow Wilson Drive, Suite, 2900B, Jackson, MS 39213, USA. brenda.w.campbell@jsums.edu.
authors.forename: Brenda W Campbell
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Minority Health and Health Disparities, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, 350 West Woodrow Wilson Drive, Suite, 2280, Jackson, MS 39213, USA. monique.s.white@jsums.edu.|Jackson Heart Study Community Outreach Center, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, 350 West Woodrow Wilson Drive, Suite, 2900B, Jackson, MS 39213, USA. monique.s.white@jsums.edu.
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Minority Health and Health Disparities, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, 350 West Woodrow Wilson Drive, Suite, 2280, Jackson, MS 39213, USA. henfra@att.net.
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Minority Health and Health Disparities, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, 350 West Woodrow Wilson Drive, Suite, 2280, Jackson, MS 39213, USA. Djceo@ibshealthy.com.
authors.forename: Dorothy J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: McGill
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Minority Health and Health Disparities, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, 350 West Woodrow Wilson Drive, Suite, 2280, Jackson, MS 39213, USA.|Jackson Heart Study Community Outreach Center, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, 350 West Woodrow Wilson Drive, Suite, 2900B, Jackson, MS 39213, USA.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Antoine-LaVigne
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Minority Health and Health Disparities, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, 350 West Woodrow Wilson Drive, Suite, 2280, Jackson, MS 39213, USA. marinelle.payton@jsums.edu.|Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, 350 West Woodrow Wilson Drive, Suite, 2900B, Jackson, MS 39213, USA. marinelle.payton@jsums.edu.
authors.forename: Marinelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Payton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D004032:Diet; D004777:Environment; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008922:Mississippi; D010465:Perception; D011057:Politics; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: African Americans; cardiovascular disease; disparities; policy; public health