Assessing sexual assault survivors' access to emergency contraception: results from a mixed methods study in South Carolina.

Background: Provision of emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) is widely recognized as the standard of care to prevent pregnancy after a sexual assault. However, previous research has shown that hospitals do not routinely counsel sexual assault patients about or provide sexual assault survivors with ECPs or accurate referrals.

Methods: We undertook a mixed methods study to assess policies and practices regarding the provision of ECPs for sexual assault survivors in South Carolina.

8 Steps to Fitness: a faith-based, behavior change physical activity intervention for African Americans.

Background: Physical activity (PA) participation offers many benefits especially among ethnic groups that experience health disparities. Partnering with faith-based organizations allows for a more culturally tailored approach to changing health behaviors.

Methods: 8 Steps to Fitness was a faith-based behavior-change intervention promoting PA among members of African American churches.

Physical activity participation in African American churches.

The potential benefit of physical activity (PA) programs delivered through churches is largely unexamined. This study examined availability of PA programs, interpersonal support for PA, and PA participation in African-American churches. Individuals from a random sample of 20 churches in South Carolina participated in a telephone survey (N = 571).

Using the RE-AIM framework to evaluate a physical activity intervention in churches.

Introduction: Health-e-AME was a 3-year intervention designed to promote physical activity at African Methodist Episcopal churches across South Carolina. It is based on a community-participation model designed to disseminate interventions through trained volunteer health directors.

Methods: We used the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework to evaluate this intervention through interviews with 50 health directors.

Increasing physical activity among church members: community-based participatory research.

Background: Faith-based interventions using a community-based participatory approach hold promise for eliminating ethnic health disparities. This study evaluated the effects of a volunteer-led statewide program to increase physical activity among members of African-American churches.

Methods: African Methodist Episcopal churches within six regions (Conferences) were randomly assigned to receive training in the program immediately or 1 year later.

Understanding physical activity participation in members of an African American church: a qualitative study.

Faith-based interventions hold promise for increasing physical activity (PA) and thereby reducing health disparities. This paper examines the perceived influences on PA participation, the link between spirituality and health behaviors and the role of the church in promoting PA in African Americans. Participants (n = 44) were adult members of African American churches in South Carolina.

The health-e-AME faith-based physical activity initiative: Description and baseline findings.

This article provides an overview of the development, implementation, and baseline findings from a statewide faith-based physical activity (PA) initiative. The 3-year program is training African Methodist Episcopal volunteers across South Carolina to implement programs to increase PA in their congregations. To date, 98 churches have been trained.

Factors associated with physical activity among African-American men and women.

Background: African Americans have lower rates of physical activity (PA) than Caucasians. Although correlates of PA have been studied in many populations, little is known about the influences on physical activity for African Americans, particularly African-American men.

Methods: Individuals were randomly selected from 20 church rosters and participated in a telephone survey (165 men, 407 women) in May to September 2003.