Evidence of the benefits of physical activity in the health of aging women continues to grow but questions remain about the factors that influence these women's ability to engage in this behavior. The authors used a qualitative design to describe the social and culture-specific perceived benefits and barriers to physical activity among 143 Latina women, ages 40 to 79. Content analysis of these women's responses revealed that perceived benefits (health promotion, physical fitness, improved roles) and barriers (time constraints of women's roles, personal health, internal and external factors) function as competing elements that may explain physical inactivity. Health care providers should emphasize overcoming barriers and promote perceived benefits as clinical interventions that may pose the greatest potential to increase physical activity among aging Latina women. This emphasis holds promise as a feasible and effective primary care intervention for achieving increased physical-activity-related health benefits.

BACKGROUND: Screening mammography for women 50 to 69 years of age may lead to 50% having an abnormal study. We set out to determine the proportion of women who understand their abnormal mammogram results and the factors that predict understanding.

In this study, I describe the cardiovascular-related diet and exercise experiences of 24 married immigrant Mexican women (21 to 40 years-old) who have children. I used semistructured taped interviews in Spanish to elicit qualitative data concerning the diet and exercise experiences of this sample. The data were analyzed in Spanish using grounded theory procedures. A major finding in this study is a core process of realizing a covert overweight image. Women described an ongoing process of coming to terms with diet and exercise decisions in a sociocultural disempowering environment that limited their options to promote their health. Despite these limitations, some of the women assessed and formulated options that developed into transcending strategies for engaging in diet and exercise behaviors. Such sociocultural factors as women's roles and their social support structures were found to be critical in describing those behaviors.

Evaluation of BIRADS 0, 4, or 5 abnormal mammograms was completed in most women within the recommended 60 days. Even within effective systems, correctible communication factors may adversely affect time to diagnosis.