Analysis of the local health-enhancing physical activity policies in the French Riviera

Abstract

Abstract Background Policy is one of the levers to initiate structural and environmental changes to foster health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) promotion. However, little is known about local evidence to support governments in their policies to promote HEPA. This study aims to analyze the local HEPA policies development in French mid-size cities. Methods Mid-size cities from 2 counties of the French South Region were targeted (n = 17). In each city, a local HEPA policy analysis tool, CAPLA-Santé, was administered to key informants heading the departments of sport, health and social. CAPLA-Santé is a local policy analysis tool adapted from the national HEPA policy analysis tool (HEPA PAT version 2) developed by the World Health Organization. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and documents analysis. Results A total of 10 mid-size cities were volunteered to participate. Key informants from sport (n = 10), health (n = 5) and social (n = 6) departments were interviewed. Several written HEPA policies were formalized in 6 cities, 4 of them based their policies on scientific evidences or a national policy. These policies (n = 14), were mainly from the sport (n = 8) and the health sectors (n = 4). Some cities had a department head to ensure cross-sectoral collaboration (n = 3). Key informants reported that the support of national policies, the commitment of elected officials and an important local stakeholders' network could facilitate the HEPA promotion; whereas lack of intersectoral collaboration and resources could be a limitation. Conclusions The results help to better understand the local HEPA policies, highlighting some barriers, facilitators and perspectives. These findings could be valuable to scale up the HEPA promotion at the local level. Key messages Local policymakers had difficulties to adopt an intersectoral and global approaches in HEPA promotion. Using local HEPA policy analysis tool can provide evidence to support policymakers.