Project GUIA

Guide for Useful Interventions for Activity in Brasil and Latin América

Background
Evidence-based guidelines have been developed for promoting physical activity in community settings in the United States (i.e., the Guide to Community Preventive Services). These recommendations have not been systematically examined and applied in developing countries, where physical activity promotion has become a priority due to increasing rates of chronic disease. The GUIA Project was initiated to examine and promote evidence-based strategies to increase physical activity in Brazil and Latin America. Within the past year, the Saint Louis University Prevention Research Center (SLU-PRC) was designated by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization (WHO/PAHO) as a Collaborating Centre on Evidence-Based Chronic Disease Prevention. This designation carries with it the official recognition of the SLU-PRC’s expertise and shows our formal pledge to working with WHO/PAHO countries including Brazil.

Mission
Assess evidence-based strategies for promoting physical activity for use in Brasil and Latin America. Specifically, assess whether or not evidence-based recommendations developed in the United States as part of the Community Guide are applicable in Brazil and other countries from Latin America.

Activities
To reach our goal, we will:

• · Establish and continually build collaborations with researchers and practitioners in Brazil who have a stake in promotion of physical activity;

• Synthesize the literature on community-based strategies to promote physical activity in Brazil and Latin America.

• Conduct formative research to understand the relevance and acceptability of the Community Guide;

• Evaluate one or more community demonstration projects in Brasil; and

• Develop a framework for dissemination and begin to conduct widespread dissemination of the products of our work.

Innovations and Uses of Findings
This study is among the first to systematically adapt evidence-based guidelines for use in the developing world. It will build an important cross-national collaboration that should lay a foundation for future efforts.

To learn more about this exciting project and for contact information please download the pdf project summary

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