Department of Biomedical Sciences, Public Health Research Group, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Ghana Statistical Service, Finance Close, Accra, Ghana.
PLoS One. 2023 Jun 23;18(6):e0286332. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286332. eCollection 2023.
In Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions, there has been very little systematic attempt to document the uses and perceived health benefits of urban green spaces in cities and the factors influencing usage. We therefore sought to establish the availability, accessibility and use of urban green spaces, and the perceived health benefits in an African population. We also ascertained the factors influencing use and development of green spaces at home. A population-based survey was conducted in Accra, the capital city of Ghana, spanning 11 Municipal and 3 Sub-Metropolitan areas. Multivariable binary logistic regression adjusting for potential confounders was used to establish the association between green space use and development at home, and socio-demographic, neighbourhood and health factors. Odds ratios and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were estimated from the models. Several socio-demographic (gender, age, marital status, occupation, ethnicity, religion) and district-level (population density, income level, neighbourhood greenness) factors were associated with use of green spaces and development of green spaces at home in Accra. Residents who were worried about depletion of green spaces in their community were more likely to develop green spaces at home. In neighbourhoods with moderate and high level of greenness, residents were less likely to develop green spaces at home. Five-percent and 47% of green space users in Accra reported witnessing an improvement in their physical and mental health, respectively, from use of green spaces. The study findings can inform policy action for promoting use and development of green spaces in African cities and for mitigating depletion and degradation of the limited urban greenery.
在撒哈拉以南非洲和其他发展中地区，很少有系统的尝试来记录城市中城市绿地的使用情况和感知到的健康益处，以及影响使用的因素。因此，我们试图确定在非洲人群中城市绿地的可及性、可及性和使用情况，以及感知到的健康益处。我们还确定了影响家庭中绿地使用和开发的因素。在加纳首都阿克拉，进行了一项基于人群的调查，涵盖了 11 个市和 3 个副都市区。使用多变量二元逻辑回归调整潜在混杂因素，以确定家庭中绿地使用和开发与社会人口统计学、邻里和健康因素之间的关联。从模型中估计了优势比及其相应的 95%置信区间。一些社会人口统计学因素（性别、年龄、婚姻状况、职业、族裔、宗教）和地区水平因素（人口密度、收入水平、邻里绿化）与阿克拉居民使用绿地和开发家庭绿地有关。担心社区绿地枯竭的居民更有可能在家中开发绿地。在绿化程度中等和较高的邻里，居民不太可能在家中开发绿地。阿克拉的 5%和 47%的绿地使用者分别报告称，使用绿地改善了他们的身心健康。研究结果可以为促进非洲城市绿地的使用和开发以及减轻有限城市绿地的枯竭和退化提供政策行动。
