Author
Jahns, Lisa | |
MCDONALD, LEANDER - Cankdeska Cikana Community College | |
WADSWORTH, ANN - Cankdeska Cikana Community College | |
MORIN, CHARLES - Four Winds Community School | |
LIU, YAN - Baylor College Of Medicine |
Submitted to: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 11/17/2014 Publication Date: 11/21/2014 Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/59940 Citation: Jahns, L.A., McDonald, L.R., Wadsworth, A., Morin, C., Liu, Y. 2014. Barriers and facilitators to being physically active on a rural, Northern Plains American Indian Reservation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 11:12053-12603. Interpretive Summary: American Indians have among the highest prevalence of obesity and chronic disease in the US. Physical activity (PA) is associated with maintenance of a healthy body weight and prevention of some chronic diseases, yet a large proportion of American Indians do not engage in any PA. The objectives of this study were to identify barriers to and facilitators of PA among American Indian adults living on a rural, Northern Plains reservation to aid in the development of interventions to increase PA. Adults participated in focus groups asking about either barriers to, or facilitators of, being PA. Participants ranked 21 barriers and 18 facilitators. Barriers to PA included lack of time and availability of safe or convenient locations. Facilitators included knowledge of health benefits and enjoyment in being active. Responses provide direction for locally designed community-based programs to promote facilitators and decrease barriers to individual’s engagement in PA. Technical Abstract: American Indians have among the highest prevalence of obesity and chronic disease in the US. Physical activity (PA) is associated with maintenance of a healthy body weight and prevention of some chronic diseases, yet a large proportion of American Indians do not engage in any PA. The objectives of this study were to identify barriers to and facilitators of PA among American Indian adults living on a rural, Northern Plains reservation to aid in the development of interventions to increase PA. Adults participated in focus groups asking about either barriers to, or facilitators of, being PA. Participants ranked 21 barriers and 18 facilitators. Barriers to PA included lack of time and availability of safe or convenient locations. Facilitators included knowledge of health benefits and enjoyment in being active. Responses provide direction for locally designed community-based programs to promote facilitators and decrease barriers to individual’s engagement in PA. |