 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Bonnie Sanderson, PhD, University of Alabama-Birmingham, 307 LHRB UAB, 701 South 19th St, Birmingham, AL 35294, H. Russell Foushee, PhD, School of Public Health, University of Alabama-Birmingham, RPHB 434 B, 1665 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294, Vera Bittner, MD, MSPH, School of Medicine, University of Alabama-Birmingham, 305 LHRB, 701 19th St South, Birmingham, AL 35294, Carol Cornell, PhD, Division of Preventive Medicine, Behavioral Medicine Unit, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1717 11th Ave. South, Office 641, Birmingham, AL 35205, Varena G. Stalker, MPA, School of Public Health, Community Cove University of Alabama at Birmingham Center for Health Promotion, 1530 3RD AVE S, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022, LeaVonne Pulley, PhD, Health Behavior, University of Alabama at Birmingham, RPHB 227, 1530 3RD AVE S, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022, and Amy A Eyler, PhD, School of Public Health, Saint Louis University, Prevention Research Center, 3545 Lafayette Ave., St. Louis, MO 63104, 636-391-7532, eyleras@accessus.net.
Background: African American women in rural communities are among the least physically active groups in the nation. Methods: Telephone surveys were collected from 567 African American women residing in 3 rural counties. Women reported the number of minutes engaged in moderate or vigorous activities and responded to other questions concerning personal, social and physical environmental factors that may affect physical activity levels. Logistic regression modeling was used to identify the factors associated with more active women. Results: Thirty-eight percent of the women met the physical activity recommendations, 45 % were insufficiently active, and 15 % were inactive. In the adjusted model, the social environmental factors that were associated with women meeting the recommendations (vs. inactive) were attending religious services and seeing people in the neighborhood exercise. Attending religious services, knowing people who exercise, and a higher social issue score were associated with women who reported some activity (vs. inactive). No physical environmental factors were associated with the more active groups. Suggested interventions included increasing the availability of exercise opportunities through facilities and classes. Conclusion: Social environmental influences were positively associated with higher levels of physical activity among these rural, African American women and need to be considered when planning interventions.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Physical Activity, Women
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.