Supportive Movement: Tackling Barriers to Physical Activity for Pregnant and Parenting Individuals who have Experienced Trauma
Publication: Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
18 February 2022
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to understand physical activity experiences of pregnant and/or parenting individuals (PPI) who have histories of trauma. Utilizing feminist participatory action research, we conducted five focus groups (n = 37) with PPI and semi-structured interviews (n = 10) with service providers. Three themes were generated: (1) poverty and impoverished neighbourhoods limit availability of/ access to physical activity programs; (2) existing physical activity programs are not appropriate/appealing to PPI in this community; and (3) PPI live with multiple fears and judgment that impedes their physical activity. To adequately tackle health inequities, we propose a shift towards trauma- and violence-informed physical activity programming.
Résumé
L’objectif de cette étude était de comprendre les expériences concernant l’activité physique de femmes enceintes et/ou de mères ayant des antécédents de traumatisme. En nous basant sur les principes de la recherche-action participative féministe, nous avons constitué cinq groupes de discussion (n = 37) avec ces deux types de femmes ainsi que des entrevues semi-structurées auprès de prestataires de services (n = 10). Trois points importants sont ressortis : (1) La pauvreté et les milieux défavorisés limitent la disponibilité/l’accès aux programmes d’activité physique ; (2) Les programmes d’activité physique actuels ne sont ni appropriés ni attrayants pour toutes ces femmes ; (3) Ces mêmes femmes, craignant d’être jugées, préfèrent renoncer à l’activité physique. Pour résoudre les problèmes d’inégalités en matière de santé, nous suggérons d’orienter ces femmes vers des programmes d’activité physique prenant en compte traumatisme et violence.
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Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Volume 41 • Number 1 • January 2022
Pages: 18 - 34
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Version of record online: 18 February 2022
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Francine Darroch, Colleen Varcoe, Heather Hillsburg, Cleo Neville, Jessica Webb, and Candace Roberts. 2022. Supportive Movement: Tackling Barriers to Physical Activity for Pregnant and Parenting Individuals who have Experienced Trauma. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health.
41(1): 18-34. https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2022-002
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