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Tuesday, November 3, 2009: 3:05 PM
Learning Objective 1: The Learner will be able to identify the policy issues related to built environments in rural communities.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to discuss issues that impact rural women and how community health nurses can collaborate with women to improve activity levels.
Obesity is a worldwide concern and rural women tend to be physically inactive and are at higher risk for obesity. The purpose was to describe and explain 1) the perceptions of rural women regarding rural built environments (BE) conducive to physical activity, and 2) what influences availability, accessibility, acceptability, and maintenance of these built environments for physical activity (PA) of rural women. March 2006 - April 2007 data collection occurred in two rural communities with populations of less than 1,000. The ecologic model and feminist underpinnings guided the case study research design and methodology. Sources included 2 women’s focus groups (4 total focus groups, N=26) and 1 city council (2 total focus groups, N=8) in each community; individual interviews (N=11); three years of archival data; and two quantitative sidewalk maintenance assessments (conducted during two seasons, winter and summer). A central theme that emerged was adaptation. Rural women constantly adapted to conditions of BE, seasonal concerns, wild animals, traffic control issues, other people, and personal needs. Economic resources were limited for both communities. Local champions, collaborative efforts (public schools, city, and groups/organizations), and adaptation enabled these rural communities to have some development and ongoing maintenance solutions. Implications for nursing and nurse educators include the need to assess the BE where consumers of health care reside to determine PA options. Policies need to increase the economic resources available for rural communities for PA infrastructure (e.g., sidewalks, trails) since it is known that physical inactivity causes an increase in both morbidity and mortality.