A Mosque-Based Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in South Asian Muslim Women

South Asian (SA) women (people with origins in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka) living in Ontario have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD) compared to the general population. Various explanations for these differences have been established, one of which is based on low levels of physical activity in people of SA origin, particularly in Muslim women. Studies suggest that they participate in less physical activity or recreational exercise compared to other SA women. Practical barriers (e.g. lack of time, childcare) are often interwoven with cultural barriers, such as restrictions leaving the home alone to enter mixed-gender settings, and lack of socialization into sporting and other outdoor activities) inhibit participation.

The provision of culturally and gender sensitive facilities, such as women-only exercise sessions at mosques could serve as a solution for Ontario SA Muslim women to be more active. Studies indicate health promotion programs in religious institutions (e.g. churches) have demonstrated clinical and psychosocial benefit to women of various ethnic groups. Similar to Canadian churches, mosques have key elements identified in the literature to be beneficial in providing physical activity opportunities for Muslim women: partnerships, available and accessible space and supportive social relationships.

To the investigators' knowledge, mosque-based physical activity interventions for SA Muslim women have not been implemented and evaluated in Ontario. Such interventions are needed to help attenuate the risk of diabetes and CHD in this ethnic group who represent a significant part of the Ontario population.