Promoting physical activity in women: evaluation of a 2-year community-based intervention in Sydney, Australia.

Full Abstract

Women are less likely than men to reach recommended levels of physical activity and have unequal access to active leisure time. Studies in Australia have consistently found that women are only half as likely as men to be adequately active. A community-based multi-strategic health promotion intervention, 'Concord, A Great Place to be Active', was implemented from 1997 to 1999. It aimed to increase the physical activity levels of women aged 20-50 years living in the Concord Local Government Area (LGA), an inner-western region of Sydney, Australia. A key feature of this intervention was a partnership between Concord Council (the local government) and the Central Sydney Health Promotion Unit (CSHPU). The project was evaluated using qualitative and quantitative methods. Key informant interviews and focus groups were conducted to inform the development of the intervention and to assess the impact of the project on Concord Council. Pre- and post-intervention telephone surveys of the target group were also conducted. Following the intervention, there was a statistically significant (6.4%) reduction in the proportion of sedentary women. Further, there were a number of positive enhancements in the Council's capacity to promote physical activity in the community. These findings demonstrate that a community-based intervention targeting a specific population can achieve positive changes in physical activity and that a local government has the capacity to be involved in and sustain physical activity interventions.

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Author information

Author/s: Wen, Li Ming (LM); Thomas, Margaret (M); Jones, Helen (H); Orr, Neil (N); Moreton, Renee (R); King, Lesley (L); Hawe, Penny (P); Bindon, Jeni (J); Humphries, Jenni (J); Schicht, Karin (K); Corne, Shauna (S); Bauman, Adrian (A);

Affiliation: Health Promotion Unit, Central Sydney Area Health Service, L4 Queen Mary Building, Grose St, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia. lmwen(-atsign-)email.cs.nsw.gov.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Health promotion international (Health Promot Int), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Jun; vol 17 (issue 2) : pp 127-37

Dates: Created 2002/05/02; Completed 2002/07/01; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 11986294, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Exercise
Female
Focus Groups
Health Education - organization & administration
Health Promotion - methods; organization & administration

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