Walia S, Leipert B
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences,The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Rural Remote Health. 2012;12:1842. Epub 2012 Jan 23.
Decreasing physical activity levels, particularly among youth, continue to be a prominent health concern in Canada, and youth living in rural areas may encounter unique facilitators and barriers to physical activity. In addition, current research suggests that overweight and obesity rates are higher for youth in some rural areas compared with urban areas. The goal of this study was to identify the perceived facilitators and barriers to physical activity for a selected sample of rural youth at a rural secondary school in south-western Ontario and examine how rural barriers and facilitators affect rural youth physical activity. Current Canadian literature addresses rural youth physical activity in a very limited fashion. Thus, the goal of this research was to provide important insights into physical activity for rural youth.
Nine participants aged 13 to 18 years completed the study using the photovoice methodology and method. Photovoice is a relatively new method for health research that adopts an innovative approach whereby participants use cameras to document their perceived health realities. In photovoice the images and words from the life experiences of participants create the basis for discussion. Participants had 2 weeks to take photographs. After 2 weeks the cameras and logbooks were retrieved, the photographs were developed, and a one-on-one interview was held with each participant. The interviews focused on participants' explanations of their photographs and their relevance to physical activity.
Analysis of the pictorial, narrative, and logbook data provided by participants revealed 12 themes as facilitators and barriers to physical activity. Some of the themes relate to facilitators (eg early exposure to activities), some to barriers (eg lack of opportunities close to home), and some themes represent both a facilitator and a barrier (eg competitiveness, family support, and peer interests). The findings of this study may assist community stakeholders, school officials, and parents to better support the physical activity needs of rural youth.
Physical activity rates continue to decline and to be a major health concern for Canadian youth. Thus, it is becoming increasingly important to understand physical activity from the perspective of rural youth. Implications of this information for rural communities, rural schools, and rural residents are significant. These implications and recommendations may help facilitate increased participation in physical activity for rural youth by providing them, and their families and communities, with enhanced opportunities and resources to engage in physical activity. Further research is clearly indicated.
身体活动水平的下降，尤其是在青少年当中，仍是加拿大一个突出的健康问题，而生活在农村地区的青少年在身体活动方面可能会遇到独特的促进因素和障碍。此外，当前研究表明，一些农村地区青少年的超重和肥胖率高于城市地区。本研究的目的是确定安大略省西南部一所农村中学中部分农村青少年所感知到的身体活动促进因素和障碍，并研究农村地区的障碍和促进因素如何影响农村青少年的身体活动。加拿大当前的文献对农村青少年身体活动的论述非常有限。因此，本研究的目的是为农村青少年的身体活动提供重要见解。
9名年龄在13至18岁的参与者采用摄影声音法完成了该研究。摄影声音法是一种相对较新的健康研究方法，它采用一种创新方法，即参与者使用相机记录他们所感知到的健康现实情况。在摄影声音法中，参与者生活经历中的图像和文字构成了讨论的基础。参与者有两周时间拍照。两周后收回相机和日志，冲洗照片，并与每位参与者进行一对一访谈。访谈重点是参与者对其照片的解释以及这些照片与身体活动的相关性。
对参与者提供的图片、叙述和日志数据的分析揭示了12个作为身体活动促进因素和障碍的主题。其中一些主题与促进因素有关（如早期接触活动），一些与障碍有关（如离家附近缺乏机会），还有一些主题既代表促进因素也代表障碍（如竞争、家庭支持和同伴兴趣）。本研究的结果可能有助于社区利益相关者、学校官员和家长更好地满足农村青少年的身体活动需求。
身体活动率持续下降，仍是加拿大青少年的一个主要健康问题。因此，从农村青少年的角度理解身体活动变得越来越重要。这些信息对农村社区、农村学校和农村居民的影响重大。这些影响和建议可能有助于促进农村青少年更多地参与身体活动，为他们及其家庭和社区提供更多参与身体活动的机会和资源。显然需要进一步研究。
