Understanding Muscle Strengthening Activities Of African-born Black Women In The Us

Muscle strengthening activities (MSA) have been shown to improve muscular strength, balance, endurance, mental health, and overall quality of life, and to decrease risk of noncommunicable diseases. Nonetheless, studies show that Black women and immigrants generally do not adhere to MSA guidelines. PURPOSE: To determine the associations between demographic, socioeconomic, and community level characteristics and to describe the attitudes and perceptions of Africa-born Black immigrant women in meeting MSA guidelines. Methods Data were collected using a confidential, online cross-sectional survey. The sample was 220 Black African-born women. The outcome of interest is MSA. Covariates included sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and anthropometrics. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: 47.3% (n = 104) met the MSA guidelines. Age (p = 0.037), perception of one’s weight (p = 0.031), doing PA with a member of their household (p = 0.004), engaging in PA with someone outside of their household (p = 0.005), and the built environment (p = 0.006) were positively associated with engaging in MSA. Participants 25-34 years (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.08 - 0.56; p = 0.002), over 45 years (OR 0.04, 95% CI 0.00-0.55; p = 0.016), annual income over $65,000 (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.08-0.87; p = 0.029), perceived their health as the same as it was in their native country (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.19 -0.81; p = 0.011), did not engage in PA with a household member (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.16-0.72; p = 0.005), and who used their built environment less (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.19-0.91; p = 0.028) were less likely to meet strengthening guidelines. Former drinkers (OR 6.82, 95% CI 1.43 – 32.44; p = 0.016) and those currently living with a chronic disease (OR 2.91, 95% CI 1.09 – 7.77; p = 0.033) were more likely to meet MSA guidelines. Notions of health and fitness, ideal body image perceptions, knowledge gaps, time constraints, and perceived difficulty of MSA were cited as reasons for not meeting guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Black immigrant women care about health and fitness and understand the general health benefits of PA. Interventions can capitalize on this understanding to promote increased participation in MSA. Supported by: Ohio University Student Enhancement Award