School of Public Health/Department of Nutrition/University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2010 Sep 17;7:67. doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-7-67.
The aim of this study was analyze associations between the practice of walking and environmental perception among elderly Brazilians in a region of low socioeconomic level.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 385 elderly people aged 60 years and over. To evaluate walking, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), long version (leisure and transport modules) was used. The environment was evaluated by means of the Neighborhood Environmental Walkability Scale (NEWS) (adapted Brazilian version). For the statistical analysis, multiple logistic regression models were created separately for men and women. The practice of at least 150 minutes a week of walking was the dependent variable, and the variables of environmental perception were the independent variables. All the models were controlled for schooling level and age.
The proportion of elderly people active in walking was 56.9% for the men and 26.4% for the women. The perception of the presence of soccer fields (OR = 4.12) and their proximity, within ten minutes' walk from home (OR = 3.43), were associated with the practice of walking among the men. The perception of the presence of public squares (OR = 4.70) and the proximity of primary healthcare units, within ten minutes' walk from home (OR = 3.71), were associated with the practice of walking among the women. An association with adequate perception of vehicle traffic remained at the threshold of significance for the women.
Accessibility of leisure structures such as football fields and public squares and of health services such as primary healthcare units were important environmental variables associated with the practice of walking among elderly people living in a region of low socioeconomic level in Brazil. These variables need to be taken into consideration when aiming to promote the practice of walking among elderly people living in similar regions.
本研究旨在分析巴西低收入水平地区老年人行走实践与环境感知之间的关联。
本横断面研究纳入了 385 名 60 岁及以上的老年人。为了评估行走，使用了国际体力活动问卷（IPAQ）长版本（休闲和交通模块）。通过邻里环境步行性量表（NEWS）（巴西适应版）评估环境。对于统计分析，分别为男性和女性创建了多变量逻辑回归模型。每周至少进行 150 分钟行走的实践是因变量，环境感知变量是自变量。所有模型均控制了教育程度和年龄。
男性中活跃行走的老年人比例为 56.9%，女性为 26.4%。男性中，认为有足球场（OR=4.12）且离家步行十分钟内可到达（OR=3.43）与行走实践相关。女性中，认为有公共广场（OR=4.70）且离家步行十分钟内可到达初级保健单位（OR=3.71）与行走实践相关。女性中，对车辆交通的适当感知与行走实践也存在关联，但未达到显著水平。
巴西低收入水平地区，休闲结构（如足球场和公共广场）和卫生服务（如初级保健单位）的可达性是与老年人行走实践相关的重要环境变量。在针对类似地区的老年人推广行走实践时，需要考虑这些变量。
