Exploring the gap between refugee-background communities' needs and existing community-based physical activity...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community Engagement
• Health Equity

Background:

• Physical activity programs are vital for community health but underutilized by refugee-background populations.
• Underutilization by refugee communities limits potential multilevel health and social benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore strategies for increasing engagement of refugee-background communities in local physical activity programs in Brisbane, Australia.
• To identify barriers and facilitators for participation from provider and agency perspectives.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews with program providers and refugee service agencies.
• Reflexive thematic analysis to interpret interview data.

Main Results:

• Three key themes emerged: enhancing cultural safety via intersectoral collaboration, overcoming public health policy barriers, and empowering community capacity.
• Localized, deep intersectoral collaborations are crucial for meeting refugee community needs.
• Systemic barriers hinder collaboration and contribute to the marginalization of refugee populations.

Conclusions:

• Effective engagement necessitates addressing systemic exclusion and fostering deep, localized collaborations.
• Improving cultural safety and policy environments are essential for equitable participation in public health initiatives.
• Capacity building and community empowerment can diversify the sector and promote inclusivity.