"Mane"taining: How Black Adolescent Girls Maintain Their Cultural Hair Practices in Physical Education Class.

BACKGROUND: Although hair has been found to be a barrier to physical activity (PA) among adult black women, the research exploring this phenomenon among black adolescent girls is deficient. This presents a concern because physical inactivity can lead to obesity and a host of comorbidities. This qualitative study explores hair experiences of black adolescent girls and how they maintain their cultural hair practices in hopes of promoting PA among this at-risk population. METHODS: Focus groups were conducted for 37 black adolescent girls attending a public high school in Newark, New Jersey. RESULTS: The participants reported increasing hair knowledge via social media, sociocultural influences of family and culture, and the driving force of their peer group, a concept identified in the focus groups as Hair IQ (intelligence quotient). Hair IQ helped the participants learn how to maintain their hair practices before and after PA. These factors combined to develop a framework described as the "Mane"taining model. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest the "Mane"taining model may provide pathways for engaging in PA for this population and serve as an example for adult black women who face similar barriers to PA.

Utilizing a Mobile Health Intervention to Manage Hypertension in an Underserved Community.

This 6-month pilot randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of a Mobile Health (mHealth) intervention for hypertension self-monitoring and management in an underserved urban community. The four health outcomes measured included changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), BP monitoring adherence, perceived medication adherence self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to the mHealth group or a standard follow-up group; 25 participants completed the study. The mHealth group had statistically significant improvement in systolic BP decrease (p = .01). The mHealth group had better adherence to BP monitoring and improved perceived medication adherence self-efficacy at 6 months, compared with the standard follow-up group. The results suggest that an mHealth intervention has the potential to facilitate hypertension management in underserved urban communities.

Cultural hair practices, physical activity, and obesity among urban African-American girls.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hair holds cultural meaning and value for women of African descent. The values placed on hair type and hair style date back to preslavery days. There is a small body of literature that addresses the relationship between cultural hair practices and physical inactivity among black women. Understanding this is important because inactivity during childhood and adolescent years contributes to increased weight-related morbidity and mortality during adult years. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between cultural hair practices, physical activity, and obesity among urban African-American adolescent girls. METHODS: A convenience sample of 50 African-American girls completed questionnaires and were weighed and measured for body mass index (BMI) calculation. CONCLUSION: Cultural hair practices such as the amount of money (p = .047) and time (p = .015) spent on hair maintenance were associated with decreased physical activity but were not associated with BMI. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Inactivity during adolescence can result in obesity, a major cause of chronic health conditions that contribute to morbidity and mortality as an adult. When nurse practitioners understand and appreciate the cultural differences and beliefs around cultural hair practices they will be able to develop culturally appropriate strategies that will aid in weight loss.