Social support and companionship among active African American women.

Objective: To examine the role of physical activity (PA) companions in supporting PA participation among African American women.

Methods: Data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus groups. Fifteen physically active African American women participated in the study.

Developing long-term physical activity participation: a grounded theory study with African American women.

Regular physical activity is linked to a reduced risk of obesity and chronic disease. African American women bear a disproportionate burden from these conditions and many do not get the recommended amount of physical activity. Long-term success of interventions to initiate and maintain a physically active lifestyle among African American women has not been realized.

Weight, diet, and physical activity-related beliefs and practices among pregnant and postpartum Latino women: the role of social support.

Objectives: Eating and physical activity patterns may contribute to excessive pregnancy weight gain and postpartum retention that increase the risks of obesity and diabetes for both Latino mothers and their children. Social support is an important health determinant and may affect health-related beliefs and behaviors. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of social support on weight, diet, and physical activity-related beliefs and behaviors among pregnant and postpartum Latinas.

Reducing disparities in diabetes among African-American and Latino residents of Detroit: the essential role of community planning focus groups.

Diabetes is prevalent among African-American and Latino Detroit residents, with profound consequences to individuals, families, and communities. The REACH Detroit Partnership engaged eastside and southwest Detroit families in focus groups organized by community, age, gender, and language, to plan community-based participatory interventions to reduce the prevalence and impact of diabetes and its risk factors. Community residents participated in planning, implementing, and analyzing data from the focus groups and subsequent planning meetings.

Perspectives of pregnant and postpartum latino women on diabetes, physical activity, and health.

Impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes are prevalent among Latino women of childbearing age. Physical activity during and after pregnancy may contribute to weight control and improved metabolic status, but recommended activities may not be perceived as appropriate or feasible. To plan realistic and acceptable interventions, pregnant and postpartum Latino women in Detroit met in a focus group series to discuss their beliefs about diabetes and factors influencing their participation in regular physical activity during pregnancy and postpartum.

The impact of the maternal experience with a jaundiced newborn on the breastfeeding relationship.

Objective: To examine the process by which mothers' experiences with neonatal jaundice affect breastfeeding.

Study Design: We used ethnographic interviews with grounded theory methodology. Audiotaped data were transcribed and analyzed for themes using ATLAS/ti qualitative data analysis software (Scientific Software Development, Berlin, Germany).