Exploring digital health trackers, health trackers, Indigenous women and physical activity

Background: While people have long regulated and controlled their bodies, the use of digital technologies to self-track one's bodily states, processes and activities continues to expand. No previous studies have addressed how digital health tracking technologies influence physical activity (PA) among Indigenous Australian women. This research contributes to an under researched area of leisure and health concerned with understanding the social, narrative and affective facets of individuals' practices and experiences using digital health technologies. Approach: A strengths-based empowerment approach was adopted. The researchers explored how digital health technologies (in this study, health trackers) can contribute to shaping Indigenous women's level, interest in and type of PA The research question was: How can wearable technologies shape the experiences and outcomes of PA among Indigenous women? The research team consisted of Indigenous and non-Indigenous women, who worked with a group of eight Indigenous Australian women from an Indigenous College in Sydney, Australia, from July to October 2018. Following the study's theoretical and methodological framework the practice of self-designed PA programs was employed. Individualised activity and health goals underpinned the study's approach, and each participant decided how best to achieve her goals with the assistance of the health tracker. The participants self -managed their experience in a culturally safe and appropriate manner. They tracked and reflected on their PA by wearing a digital health tracker and diarising their activity types, amounts, experiences and thoughts across an eight-week period. Significance: Findings emerging from the research indicate intersections between the use of digital health trackers and Indigenous women's enhanced health literacy, increased motivation for activity and positive leisure and lifestyle choices. Importantly, discussions around the quantitative self, governance by micro nudge and the use of health trackers showed how for the women involved in the study a greater sense of power and agency was achieved.