Abstract
This study aims to identify factors within local health departments (LHDs) that assist in maintaining engaged and sustainable cross-sector collaborations that promote physical activity (PA) in the Hispanic community.
Physical inactivity is a common modifiable risk factor for chronic conditions which disproportionately impact the health of Hispanics in the US.1 The prevalence of physical inactivity is highest among the Hispanic adult population at 32% compared with non-Hispanic black (30%), non-Hispanic white (23%), and non-Hispanic Asian (20%) adults.2
LHDs play a critical role by supporting programs that promote PA,3 through cross-sector collaborations. The social determinants of health (SDOH) inform LHD efforts. Yet, little evidence is available on how these collaborations addressing SDOH function with respect to bolstering efforts to improve physical activity in the Hispanic community, making it difficult to learn from successes and failures.4
LHDs identified as either highly or moderately engaged in obesity prevention efforts in a prior study were sampled. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with LHD staff leading chronic disease programs and health equity initiatives from LHDs within each U.S. Health and Human Services region. Interview talking points covered LHD staff roles, funding, sustainability, and the advancement of health equity initiatives for the Hispanic population in cross-sector collaborations promoting PA. A thematic analysis of the qualitative data was completed.
Themes included the need for building/maintaining long-term relationships with community partners, the value of community health workers and community-based participatory research, and the importance of sharing resources among agencies to integrate SDOH into planning PA initiatives. Many LHD staff reported funding and budget cuts related to PA programs and stressed the importance of planning for future or back-up funding mechanisms.
Including the expertise of representatives from the community and community-based organizations is essential, and resource prioritization is necessary for maintaining relationships with partners. Organizational strategies for building cross-sector collaborations to develop and maintain health equity initiatives addressing PA in the Hispanic community are needed. LHDs can utilize and test implementation strategies that build capacity to develop program elements with adequate intensity and sustainability for achieving desirable PA promotion goals.5
Notes
References:
1. Community Efforts | Overweight & Obesity | CDC. March 21, 2022. Accessed November 29, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/strategies/community.html
2. CDC. Adult Physical Inactivity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. July 25, 2022. Accessed January 14, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/data/inactivity-prevalence-maps/index.html
3. Sallis JF, Cerin E, Kerr J, et al. Built Environment, Physical Activity, and Obesity: Findings from the International Physical Activity and Environment Network (IPEN) Adult Study. Annu Rev Public Health. 2020;41:119-139. doi:10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040218-043657
4. Fichtenberg C, Delva J, Minyard K, Gottlieb LM. Health And Human Services Integration: Generating Sustained Health And Equity Improvements. Health Aff (Millwood). 2020;39(4):567-573. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01594
5. Stamatakis KA, Baker EA, McVay A, Keedy H. Development of a measurement tool to assess local public health implementation climate and capacity for equity-oriented practice: Application to obesity prevention in a local public health system. PLoS ONE. 2020;15(9):e0237380. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0237380
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Public and Community Health, Policy and Advocacy, Local Health Departments, Physical Activity, Hispanic Community
Recommended Citation
Brinker, Kimberly; Gimbel, Sarah; Stamatakis, Katherine; and Bekemeier, Betty, "Health Department Factors That Support Cross-Sectoral Collaborations in Promoting Physical Activity" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 150.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/150
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Health Department Factors That Support Cross-Sectoral Collaborations in Promoting Physical Activity
Seattle, Washington, USA
This study aims to identify factors within local health departments (LHDs) that assist in maintaining engaged and sustainable cross-sector collaborations that promote physical activity (PA) in the Hispanic community.
Physical inactivity is a common modifiable risk factor for chronic conditions which disproportionately impact the health of Hispanics in the US.1 The prevalence of physical inactivity is highest among the Hispanic adult population at 32% compared with non-Hispanic black (30%), non-Hispanic white (23%), and non-Hispanic Asian (20%) adults.2
LHDs play a critical role by supporting programs that promote PA,3 through cross-sector collaborations. The social determinants of health (SDOH) inform LHD efforts. Yet, little evidence is available on how these collaborations addressing SDOH function with respect to bolstering efforts to improve physical activity in the Hispanic community, making it difficult to learn from successes and failures.4
LHDs identified as either highly or moderately engaged in obesity prevention efforts in a prior study were sampled. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with LHD staff leading chronic disease programs and health equity initiatives from LHDs within each U.S. Health and Human Services region. Interview talking points covered LHD staff roles, funding, sustainability, and the advancement of health equity initiatives for the Hispanic population in cross-sector collaborations promoting PA. A thematic analysis of the qualitative data was completed.
Themes included the need for building/maintaining long-term relationships with community partners, the value of community health workers and community-based participatory research, and the importance of sharing resources among agencies to integrate SDOH into planning PA initiatives. Many LHD staff reported funding and budget cuts related to PA programs and stressed the importance of planning for future or back-up funding mechanisms.
Including the expertise of representatives from the community and community-based organizations is essential, and resource prioritization is necessary for maintaining relationships with partners. Organizational strategies for building cross-sector collaborations to develop and maintain health equity initiatives addressing PA in the Hispanic community are needed. LHDs can utilize and test implementation strategies that build capacity to develop program elements with adequate intensity and sustainability for achieving desirable PA promotion goals.5
Description
This study aims to identify factors within local health departments (LHDs) that assist in maintaining engaged and sustainable cross-sector collaborations that promote physical activity (PA). LHDs identified as highly/moderately engaged in such efforts in a prior study were interviewed. Themes include the need for building and maintaining long-term relationships with community partners, sharing of resources among organizations, and developing strategies for building collaborations addressing PA.