Public Open Spaces and Leisure-Time Walking in Brazilian Adults
by
Alex Antonio Florindo 1,2,*
, Ligia Vizeu Barrozo 3, William Cabral-Miranda 3, Eduardo Quieroti Rodrigues 2, Gavin Turrell 4, Moisés Goldbaum 5, Chester Luiz Galvão Cesar 6 and Billie Giles-Corti 7,8
Alex Antonio Florindo 1,2,*, Ligia Vizeu Barrozo 3, William Cabral-Miranda 3, Eduardo Quieroti Rodrigues 2, Gavin Turrell 4, Moisés Goldbaum 5, Chester Luiz Galvão Cesar 6 and Billie Giles-Corti 7,8
1
School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 03828-000, Brazil
2
Graduate Program in Nutrition in Public Health, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246-904, Brazil
3
Department of Geography, School of Philosophy, Literature and Human Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-080, Brazil
4
Institute for Health and Ageing, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne 3065, Australia
5
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
6
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246-904, Brazil
7
Centre for Urban Research, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Melbourne 3000, Australia
8
Adjunct, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Derek Clements-Croome
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14(6), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14060553
Received: 15 February 2017 / Revised: 14 March 2017 / Accepted: 15 March 2017 / Published: 23 May 2017
(This article belongs to the Section Global Health)
Access to public open space is important to increase leisure-time walking (LTW) in high-income countries, but there is little evidence in middle-income countries. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis to examine the relationship between LTW and the presence of different public open spaces (parks, bike paths, and squares) and the mix of these recreational destinations near the homes of adults participating in the Sao Paulo Health Survey (n = 3145). LTW was evaluated by a questionnaire. We delineated buffers (500, 1000, and 1500 m) from the geographic coordinates of the adults’ residential addresses using a geographic information system. We used multilevel logistic regression taking account of clustering by census tracts and households, and with adjustment for social, demographics, and health characteristics. The main results showed that the presence of at least two recreational destinations within a 500-m buffer of participants’ homes were associated with an increased odds of LTW compared with no destinations present (OR = 1.65; 95% CI 1.09–2.55). No associations were found for destinations further away. These results support actions outlined in the new urban plan for Sao Paulo city and could be used to highlight the importance access to a mix of public open spaces to promote physical activity in megacities of middle-income countries.
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Keywords:
public open spaces; built environment; leisure-time walking; adults; Brazil
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MDPI and ACS Style
Florindo, A.A.; Barrozo, L.V.; Cabral-Miranda, W.; Rodrigues, E.Q.; Turrell, G.; Goldbaum, M.; Cesar, C.L.G.; Giles-Corti, B. Public Open Spaces and Leisure-Time Walking in Brazilian Adults. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 553.
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