Rural Women’s Perceptions of Availability, Development and Maintenance of Rural Built Environments

Authors

  • Jeanine E Gangeness Bemidji State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v9i2.86

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a worldwide concern. Physical activity is one way to address obesity. The environment surrounding individuals can impact activity choices.
Design/Methods: Multiple, description, explanatory case study design, multiple-methods (focus groups, individual interviews, archival data collection, sidewalk maintenance evaluation)
Findings: Women participants perceived community economic resources as an influencing factor for availability, development, and maintenance of rural built environments conducive to physical activity. These women participants also identified women speaking out and „being heard‟ as influencing availability and maintenance of built environments, and advancing age with reduced physical ability influenced the maintenance of resident-owned rural built environments.
Conclusions: There are many policy indications for local nurses advocating for rural populations including the consideration of built environment as a factor in health promotion and treatment (diabetes, obesity).

Downloads

Published

2012-03-07

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2009)

Section

Articles

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share (for non-commerical purposes) the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).