Living in Limbo: Latinas' Assessment of Lower Rio Grande Valley Colonias Communities.
DeAnne K Hilfinger Messias, Patricia A Sharpe, Lourdes Del Castillo-González and 2 others
PMID 27921331WHAT IT FOUND
Latinas in Texas colonias described a theme of "living in limbo" where fear of immigration enforcement, poverty, and unsafe environments severely limited their willingness to engage in physical activity.
Existing community assets like parks and schools were often viewed as inaccessible or exclusive.
Key findings
01Participants identified fear of immigration enforcement and border control as a primary barrier to public physical activity, with some avoiding public spaces due to anxiety about being stopped or deported.
02Economic constraints and perceived exclusivity prevented residents from using local assets; for example, schools and parks were seen as inaccessible due to after-hours closures or fees, leading participants to deny they were true community resources.
03Environmental hazards such as lack of paved roads, stray dogs, and poor lighting made walking treacherous, forcing residents to use unsafe alternatives like dry irrigation canals.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The findings are specific to eight colonias in the Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley and are not generalizable to other colonias or communities along the US-Mexico border. Participants self-disclosed immigration status, which may have influenced their willingness to share certain fears or barriers. A few participants had limited Spanish fluency, which may have affected their level of contribution in the Spanish-language sessions. The study was part of a larger intervention design process, which may have influenced the focus of the asset mapping activities.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these findings as evidence that specific physical therapy or exercise interventions are effective or ineffective. This study describes the social and environmental barriers to physical activity in a specific community; it does not test a treatment or measure health outcomes resulting from an intervention.