264 Building Empowerment through FITness (BeFIT)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Improving physical activity of African American women experiencing disproportionate health risks from sedentarism, educational and socio-environmental barriers. BeFit: Building Empowerment through Fitness is based on “What I Learned At Home” project, run by Women Under Construction Network, for residents of the Birmingham Housing Authority. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: A qualitative study design to understand unique cultural context and challenges faced by African American women residing in the Birmingham Housing Authority, regarding physical activity engagement, including sedentarism. A needs assessment approach will help determine barriers, support systems, and social networks. Semi-structured, pre, mid, and post program focus groups will identify challenges and opportunities for health, such as diet and exercise, and will be analyzed by hand with a thematic analysis. The project framework uses exercise and home repair tools with a life-building/life repair curriculum to influence health, self-efficacy, and program engagement. The Study enrollment will include 50 women over two cohorts in a 12-week project. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: This research addresses the urgent health needs of African American women in low-income communities. These women face heightened health risks due to sedentary lifestyles, educational gaps, and socio-environmental barriers. This project targets the pronounced prevalence of allostatic burden in this population by applying a culturally sensitive, bottom-up approach. Our goal of incorporating healthy lifestyles to improve health in at-risk women and their families requires multiple projects. This project is a necessary first step in engaging with a community to identify local environmental circumstances and barriers to increasing the relevance of physical activity within the home. These barriers can then be addressed by adapting an exercise promotion program to the needs of this community. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Black women in under-resourced communities are more likely to be sedentary and have poor health. Exercise programs can be a powerful tool to address disparities and help prioritize health. The circumstances of women in public housing in Birmingham, AL, need community partners to adapt exercise engagement programs to meet environmental challenges.