Barriers and Facilitators to Being Physically Active on a Rural U.S. Northern Plains American Indian Reservation

Lisa Jahns, Leander R. McDonald, Ann Wadsworth, Charles Morin and Yan Liu
Additional contact information
Lisa Jahns: Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 2420 2nd Avenue North, Grand Forks, ND 58203, USA
Leander R. McDonald: Spirit Lake Dakota Nation, P.O. Box 359, Fort Totten, ND 58335, USA
Ann Wadsworth: Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Spirit Lake Dakota Nation, P.O. Box 269, Fort Totten, ND 58370, USA
Charles Morin: Tate Topa Tribal School, Spirit Lake Dakota Nation, P.O. Box 211, St. Michael, ND 58370, USA
Yan Liu: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1100 Bates Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA

IJERPH, 2014, vol. 11, issue 11, 1-11

Abstract: The objective of the present study was to identify barriers to and facilitators of physical activity among American Indian adults living on a rural, U.S. Northern Plains reservation using the nominal group technique (NGT). NGT is a method of data generation and interpretation that combines aspects of qualitative (free generation of responses) and quantitative (systematic ranking of responses) methodologies. Adults participated in one of two NGT sessions asking about either barriers to (n = 6), or facilitators of (n = 5), being physically active. Participants nominated and ranked 21 barriers and 18 facilitators. Barriers indicated lack of knowledge of how to fit physical activity into a daily schedule, work, caring for family members, and prioritizing sedentary pursuits. Other responses included environmental barriers such as lack of access and transportation to a gym, unsafe walking conditions, and inclement weather. Facilitators to following recommendations included knowledge of health benefits of physical activity and the perception of physical activity as enjoyable, including feeling good when working out. Environmental facilitators included being outdoors walking and biking as well as parks and exercise facilities. Responses provided direction for locally designed community-based programs to promote facilitators and decrease barriers to individual’s engagement in physical activity.

Keywords: American Indians; physical activity; rural; reservation; barriers; facilitators (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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