Eliciting resident input using neighborhood assessments, geonarratives, and interviews from an underserved community

Physical activity (PA) is essential for maintaining health and well-being, reducing the risk of chronic diseases and mortality. Individuals living in lower-income communities are less likely to engage in sufficient PA, a disparity is often attributed to limited access to resources for PA and supportive infrastructure and impacted by resident’s perceptions of their neighborhoods. Few studies engage residents to systematically document their own spaces and associated observations. This study engaged with members of an underserved community, following a geonarrative approach to understanding neighborhood residents’ perceptions of the PA environment by integrating: 1) a baseline survey regarding participant and neighborhood characteristics; 2) neighborhood self-assessments using smartphone-collected photographs with geolocation and narrative documentation of neighborhood features; and 3) subsequent in-depth interviews wherein participants explored and discussed maps embedded with their own neighborhood photographs. Transcripts were analyzed using an inductive-deductive thematic approach then further coded by valence: positive, negative, and desire to change. Participants (n = 9; n = 3 youth, n = 6 adults) were all African American, and 22% (n = 2) were male. Survey findings suggested that neighborhood assets for supporting PA were fair or poor. Self-assessments and interviews noted positive (availability of parks and trails, access to PA facilities), negative (lack of facilities, poor conditions of existing facilities, social issues) PA themes and notable issues that they desired change for (new PA facilities or programming, improving existing facilities). This study provided insight on residents’ perceptions of the role of their neighborhood environment for PA behavior, providing a foundation for community partners and stakeholders to advocate for change.