Overcoming the challenges of conducting physical activity and built environment research in Latin America: IPEN Latin America

Abstract Objective There is evidence linking the built environment (BE) with physical activity (PA), but few studies have been conducted in Latin America (LA). State-of-the-art methods and protocols have been designed in and applied in high-income countries (HIC). In this paper, we identify key chal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Preventive medicine 2014-12, Vol.69, p.S86-S92
Main Authors: Salvo, Deborah, Reis, Rodrigo S, Sarmiento, Olga L, Pratt, Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Brazil
Built environment
Cooperative Behavior
Data Collection
Environment Design
Environment. Living conditions
Humans
Interinstitutional Relations
Internal Medicine
International Cooperation
Latin America
Medical sciences
Mexico
Miscellaneous
Motor Activity
Physical activity
Prevention and actions
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Research Design
Residence Characteristics
Safety
Urban Population
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Summary:Abstract Objective There is evidence linking the built environment (BE) with physical activity (PA), but few studies have been conducted in Latin America (LA). State-of-the-art methods and protocols have been designed in and applied in high-income countries (HIC). In this paper, we identify key challenges and potential solutions to conducting high-quality PA and BE research in LA. Methods The experience of implementing the IPEN data collection protocol (IPEN: International Physical Activity Environment Network) in Curitiba, Brazil; Bogotá, Colombia; and Cuernavaca, Mexico (2010–2011); is described to identify challenges for conducting PA and BE research in LA. Results Five challenges were identified: lack of academic capacity (implemented solutions (IS): building a strong international collaborative network); limited data availability, access and quality (IS: partnering with influential local institutions, and crafting creative solutions to use the best-available data); socio-political, socio-cultural and socio-economic context (IS: in-person recruitment and data collection, alternative incentives); safety (IS: strict rules for data collection procedures, and specific measures to increase trust); and appropriateness of instruments and measures (IS: survey adaptation, use of standardized additional survey components, and employing a context-based approach to understanding the relationship between PA and the BE). Advantages of conducting PA and BE research in LA were also identified. Conclusions Conducting high-quality PA and BE research in LA is challenging but feasible. Networks of institutions and researchers from both HIC and LMIC play a key role. The lessons learned from the IPEN LA study may be applicable to other LMIC.
ISSN:0091-7435
1096-0260
DOI:10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.10.014