Abstract

HERAZO-BELTRAN, Yaneth  and  DOMINGUEZ-ANAYA, Regina. Perception of the environment and physical activity levels in adults from a neighbourhood in Cartagena. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2010, vol.12, n.5, pp.744-753. ISSN 0124-0064.

Objective Estimating differences in how the environment is perceived in a particular neighbourhood according to physical activity levels. Methods This was a study of 350 adults aged 18 to 65 who were residing in Ternera (an urban neighbourhood in the city of Cartagena, Colombia). predominant socioeconomic stratum in Ternera is 2 (on a scale of 1-6). Sampling was random, probabilistic and carried out in three stages. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire- short form (IPAQ-sf) was used for measuring physical activity levels. How the neighbourhood's characteristics were perceived was measured with the International Physical Activity Prevalence Study's (IPAS) environmental module. Results 45.1 % active and 54.9 % inactive people's prevalence was noted. Differences were found regarding active and inactive subjects' perception of their neighbourhood (p<0.05) regarding their perception of bus stops less than 10 to 15 minutes away (OR=2.74; 1.58-4.92 95 %CI), too much traffic in the neighbourhood (OR=1.95; 1.22-3.13 95 %CI) and few places to walk or bicycle near their homes (OR=1.69; 1.04-2.72 95 %CI); all signalled a risk to the subject's physical activity. Conclusions It was evident that the perception of the neighbourhood's environment was a determinant of exercise regarding active and inactive people in the Ternera neighbourhood's residents.

Keywords : Motor activity; perception; environment.

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