The Health-e-AME Faith-Based Physical Activity Initiative: Description and Baseline Findings

¹ an associate professor in the Department of Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina.
² a professor of nursing and the director of Special Initiatives at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina.
³ an exercise consultant on this project and president and founder for Praise Aerobics Inc. in Charleston, South Carolina.
⁴ a doctoral candidate in the Department of Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina.
⁵ an exercise consultant on this project and recruitment and outreach coordinator at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina.
⁶ an assistant professor in the Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Epidemiology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina
⁷ a program assistant at the Office of Special Initiatives, Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina.
⁸ the nutrition consultant on this project at the Medical University of South Carolina and director of Diabetes Education at Value Medical Healthcare Corporation in Charleston, South Carolina.
⁹ a program coordinator in the Department of Exercise Science at the Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, in Columbia, South Carolina.
¹⁰ an associate director of research at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.
¹¹ a presiding elder and director of Christian Education in the 7th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, in Landon, South Carolina.
¹² a parish nurse and the Director of Health of the 7th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Health-e-AME Program Liaison, and Health-e-AME Web site administrator in Charleston, South Carolina.
¹³ an associate professor in the Department of Health Services at the University of California, Los Angeles.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: swilcox{at}sc.edu.

	Abstract

This article provides an overview of the development, implementation, and baseline findings from a statewide faith-based physical activity (PA) initiative. The 3-year program is training African Methodist Episcopal volunteers across South Carolina to implement programs to increase PA in their congregations. To date, 98 churches have been trained. Interviews done with a random sample (n = 39) indicated that 54% are implementing at least one PA program. The baseline telephone survey (N = 571) estimates that 27.8% of the population is regularly active, 54.9% underactive, and 17.3% sedentary. Baseline rates of regular PA were higher in those who were younger, healthier, and nonsmokers. Challenges to date have included obtaining rosters and implementing a large-scale program with limited resources. Interest in the program has been strong and supported by church leaders. Current efforts are on training additional churches and working with those already trained to support sustainability.

Key Words: exercise, African American health, health disparities, faith-based initiatives, health promotion

First published on August 2, 2006, doi:10.1177/1524839905278902

Health Promotion Practice 2007;8:69.

A more recent version of this article appeared on January 1, 2007


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