Active Transportation to Support Diabetes Prevention: Expanding School Health Promotion Programming in an Indigenous Community

School-based physical activity (PA) interventions, including school active transportation (AT), provide opportunities to increase daily PA levels, improves fitness, and reduces risk of diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. Based on a community-identified need, the Kahnawake Schools Diabetes Prevention Project, within an Indigenous community, undertook school travel planning to contribute to PA programming for two elementary schools. Using community-based participatory research, the Active & Safe Routes to School’s School Travel Planning (STP) process was undertaken in two schools with an STP-Committee comprised of community stakeholders and researchers. STP activities were adapted for local context including: school profile form, family survey, in-class travel survey, pedestrian-traffic observations, walkability checklist, and student mapping. STP data were jointly collected, analyzed and interpreted by researchers and community. Traffic-pedestrian observations, walkability and parent surveys identified key pedestrian-traffic locations, helped develop safe/direct routes, and traffic calming strategies. In-class travel and mapping surveys identified a need and student desire to increase school AT. The STP-Committee translated findings into STP-action plans for two schools, which were implemented in 2014–2015 school year. Combining Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) with STP merges community and researcher expertise. This project offered evidence-informed practice for active living promotions. Experience and findings could benefit Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2016.02.003
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149718915300938
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01497189
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Macridis, Soultana
  • Garcia Bengoechea, Enrique
  • McComber, Alex M
  • Jacobs, Judi
  • Macaulay, Ann C
• Publication Date: 2016-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 99-108
• Serial:
  • Evaluation and Program Planning
  • Volume: 56
  • Publisher: Pergamon Press, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0149-7189
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01497189

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Activity choices; Diabetes; Diseases and medical conditions; Traffic calming; Transportation planning; Travel surveys; Walkability; Walking distance
• Identifier Terms: Safe Routes to School (Program)
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01603061
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 28 2016 4:22PM