Assessment of Environmental Determinants of Physical Activity: a Study of Built Environment Indicators in Brno, Czech Republic

Assessment of Environmental Determinants of Physical Activity: a Study of Built Environment Indicators in Brno, Czech Republic

Research on physical activity in relation to obesity gradually becomes more focused on environmental determinants, which can potentially influence people's health choices. The present article addresses the topic of physical activity from a wider sociological perspective. Our pilot study was des...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Central European journal of public health Vol. 23 Suppl; no. Supplement; pp. S23 - S29
Main Authors: Brázdová, Zuzana Derflerová, Klimusová, Helena, Hruška, Dalibor, Prokopová, Alice, Burjanek, Aleš, Wulff, Krauff Rainer Schwanhaeuser
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Czech Republic National Institute of Public Health 01-11-2015
Subjects:
Built environment
Censuses
Czech Republic
Environment Design
Environmental assessment
Esthetics
Female
Health care
Humans
Infectious diseases
Low income groups
Male
Motor Activity
Open spaces
Parks & recreation areas
Pilot Projects
Play and Playthings
Playgrounds
Population
Quality
Residence Characteristics
Risk Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
Socioeconomics
Studies
Urban environments
Czech Republic
cycle lanes
social determinants
walking environment
playground aesthetics
pavements
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Summary:Research on physical activity in relation to obesity gradually becomes more focused on environmental determinants, which can potentially influence people's health choices. The present article addresses the topic of physical activity from a wider sociological perspective. Our pilot study was designed with the objective of testing the applicability of a method included in the EC 6th Framework Programme EURO-PREVOB, in the Czech context. The method examines specific determinants of the built environment that can have an impact on physical activity at the population level. In addition, the study aims to analyze possible differences in built environment indicators and their relation to the physical activity of people living in neighbourhoods with areas of varying socioeconomic status. The field study was carried out in the city of Brno, Czech Republic, in 5 neighbourhood quintiles, i.e. areas divided according to the socioeconomic status of local residents. In each quintile, we evaluated the quality of the built environment according to the quality, aesthetics and safety of segregated cycle facilities, playgrounds/playing areas, public open spaces, marked road crossings and pavements as well as signs of incivilities and devastation. Between the five quintiles, significant differences were found in the quality of parks and playgrounds/playing areas, pavements, marking of pedestrian crossings, and in general aesthetics, i.e. signs of incivilities and devastation of the built environment. No differences were found in the quality and use of cycle facilities. The method we used for the evaluation of the built environment proved highly applicable in Czech populated areas. Monitoring of built environment indicators in the Czech Republic should provide a basis for health maps, showing potential associations between the prevalence of high-incidence, non-infectious diseases and various social determinants of physical activity. This information might help in achieving an improvement in these determinants at a community level and promoting an increase in physical activity at the population level.
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content type line 23
ISSN:1210-7778
1803-1048
DOI:10.21101/cejph.a4133