From: Physical activity among South Asian women: a systematic, mixed-methods review
Author, publication date& quality rating | Country | aim | Methods sample | Sample | Main themes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Darr et al., 2008 -Strong+ | UK | To examine and compare illness beliefs of South Asian and European patients with CHD about lifestyle changes | In-depth interviews | N(Pakistani/Muslim men) = 10 | Perceptions: Vigorous PA* seen as unnecessary, just keep mobile to achieve adequate PA levels |
N(Pakistani/Muslim women) = 10 | Barriers: Lack of time and uncomfortable walking alone | ||||
N(Indian/Sikh men) = 7 | |||||
N(Indian/Sikh women) = 5 | |||||
N(Indian/Hindu men) = 9 | |||||
N(Indian/Hindu men) = 9 | |||||
N(Indian/Hindu women) = 4 | |||||
N(European men) = 10 | |||||
N(European women) = 10 | |||||
Age range: 40-83 | |||||
Galadas et al., 2012 - Strong | Canada | To describe Punkabi Sikh patients’ perceived barriers to engaging in physical exercise following myocardial infarction (MI) | Semi-structured interviews | N(Punjab men) = 10 | Perceptions: Difficulty determining safe PA levels |
N(Punjab women) = 5 | Informal exercise versus structured PA in a gym would be better | ||||
Age range: 48-80 | Social networks disrupted after migrating to Canada and therefore difficult to make friends with whom to do PA with | ||||
Barriers: Fatigue and weakness after MI | |||||
Grace et al., 2008 -Strong | UK | To understand lay beliefs and attitudes, religious teachings, and professional perceptions in relation to diabetes prevention in the Bangladeshi community | Focus groups for lay SA religious leaders | N(lay SA men) = 37 | Perceptions: ‘Namaz’ is term used to refer to exercise |
N(lay SA women) = 43 | PA is seen as way to care for the body and for controlling weight | ||||
N(Religious leader men) = 14 | Walking best form of activity to maintain modesty | ||||
N(lay religious leader women) = 15 | PA central to Muslim way of life | ||||
Mean age: 35 +/-2 standard deviations | |||||
Horne et al., 2009 -Weak/moderate | UK | To identify salient beliefs that influence uptake and adherence to exercise for fall prevention among community dwelling Caucasian and SA 60-70 years old | Ethnographic participant observation, focus groups, and semi structured interviews | FG: N(White men) = 14 | Perceptions: PA not considered necessary if a person is healthy |
N(White women) = 44 | Barriers: Limited knowledge of PA and its benefits | ||||
N(SA men) = 16 | Unaware of benefits of PA such as balance and improved mobility | ||||
N(SA women) = 13 | Fear of injury if participate in PA Lack of confidence to do PA | ||||
Interviews: | |||||
N(White men) = 9 | |||||
N(White women) = 14 | |||||
N(SA men) = 7 | |||||
N(SA women) = 10 | |||||
Mean age range: 65.2-66.1 | |||||
Kalra et al., 2004 -Strong/moderate | US | To gather information on the perceptions of cardiovascular risk within the Asian Indian community and to identify opportunities to design health promotion and intervention programs | Focus groups | N = 57 Asian Indian men and women | Perceptions: Urban dwellers more likely to want to do PA in a gym |
FG size and sex unspecified | Rural dwellers knew to walk and caretaking was PA | ||||
Ages unspecified | |||||
Lawton et al., 2006 -Strong | UK | To explore perceptions and experiences of undertaking physical activity as part of diabetes care | In-depth interviews | N(SA) = 32 | Perceptions: Should do PA |
N(Pakistani men) = 11 | Encouraged by health professional to walk | ||||
N(Pakistani women) = 11 | Barriers: Lack of time, fear to go out alone, no culturally sensitive facilities, domestic duties take priority over PA | ||||
N(SA Indian men) = 4 | |||||
N(SA Indian women) = 5 | |||||
Age range:40s-70s | |||||
Mohan et al., 2008 - Moderate | Australia | To report lifestyle factors of Asian Indians in Australia in relation to CHD and explore factors that could inform health education and cardiac rehabilitation programs in achieving lifestyle behavior changes | Semi-structured interviews | N = 8 | Barriers: Family is a higher priority than PA; loneliness and lack of support after migration |
N(SA Indian men) = 5 | |||||
N(SA Indian women) = 3 | |||||
6 born in India, 2 born in Fiji | |||||
Age range: 41-80 | |||||
Pollard & Guell, 2011 -Moderate | UK | To explore the facility and confidence with which women were able to recall information on PA, as required by questionnaires | Semi-structured interviews, 24-hour PA recall and accelerometry | N = 22 (British Pakistani women only) | Recall of PA: Women unlikely to accurately quantify time or intensities of daily PA |
Age range: 24-61 | Commonly used questionnaires unlikely to accurately capture PA levels | ||||
Sriskantharajah & Kai,2006 -Strong | UK | To explore influences on, and attitudes towards, physical activity among SA women with CHD and diabetes to inform secondary prevention strategies | Semi-structured interviews | N = 15 (women only) | Barriers: Uncertainty of what activities to do |
N(SA Indian) = 5 | Selfish to take PA | ||||
N(Pakistani) = 4 | Language difficulties | ||||
N(Bangladeshi) = 1 | Modesty an issue | ||||
N(East African Asian) = 2 | |||||
N(Sri Lankan) = 3 | |||||
Age range:26- + 70 | |||||
Walseth 2008 -Moderate | Norway | To explore social network dimension of social capital, and whether participation in sport leads to accumulation of social capital for young women with an immigrant background | In-depth interviews | N = 15 (women only from Pakistan, Turkey, Morocco, Iran, Syria, Gambia, and Kosovo) | Perceptions: Sport clubs strengthened established friendships |
Age range: 16-25 | Focus on similarities among each other rather than differences |