Quality and Quantity of Physical Activity Resources in the Mississippi Delta

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ABSTRACT Introduction Environmental characteristics such as public parks and recreation areas play a critical role in physical activity (PA) participation. This study examined the quality of PA resources (PARs) in the Mississippi Delta region. Methods As part of a community-based participatory research project, community coalitions identified 27 priority PAR intervention locations. The Physical Activity Resource Assessment (PARA) instrument was used to assess PA-related features (e.g., baseball fields), amenities (e.g., benches), and incivilities (e.g., auditory annoyance) at each PAR, which were rated using a scale ranging from 1 to 3. Quality of features, amenities, and incivilities at each PAR were also evaluated. Quality of PAR index scores (QPAR) were calculated for each location by summing the quality scores for features and amenities and subtracting the incivility score. Correlation analyses were used to examine the relationship between quantity and quality scores for all aspects of the PARA and QPAR for each location. Results The mean number of PA features at each location was 2.5 (range, 0–5), whereas the mean number of amenities was 5.8 (range, 1–16). QPAR was positively associated with number of PA features ( r = 0.512, P < 0.05), quality of PA features ( r = 0.606), number of amenities ( r = 0.775), and quality of amenities ( r = 0.396), and significantly ( P < 0.05) inversely related to number ( r = −0.559) and average rating ( r = −0.476) of incivilities. Quantity of PA features was associated with quantity of amenities ( r = 0.520, P < 0.05), but not incivilities. Quantity of incivilities was inversely associated with average quality of PA features ( r = −0.527, P < 0.01). Conclusions PARs in the rural Mississippi Delta region do not have many PA features, but locations with more features tended to have more amenities, which may be useful for engaging communities for usage. Interventions should capitalize on existing PA features with strategic additions that further engage the community.

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