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The Relationship between Physical Activity and the Objectively-Measured Built Environment in Low- and High-Income South African Communities

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  • Moses Isiagi

    (Research Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport (HPALS), Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine (ESSM), FIMS International Collaborating Centre of Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7725, South Africa)

  • Kufre Joseph Okop

    (Research Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport (HPALS), Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine (ESSM), FIMS International Collaborating Centre of Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7725, South Africa
    Faculty of Humanities, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7725, South Africa)

  • Estelle Victoria Lambert

    (Research Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport (HPALS), Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine (ESSM), FIMS International Collaborating Centre of Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7725, South Africa)

Abstract

There is limited data concerning the built environment and physical activity (PA) in a country with a history of sociopolitically motivated, spatial and economic disparities. We explored the extent to which objectively measured attributes of the built environment were associated with self-report or device-measured PA in low- and high-socioeconomic status (SES) communities. Methods: In a convenient sample of residents ( n = 52, aged 18–65 years) from four urban suburbs in low- and high-income settings near Cape Town, South Africa, self-reported transport- and leisure-time PA, and device-measured moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) data were collected. Built environment constructs derived from individual-level street network measures (1000 m buffer, ArcGIS, 10.51) were obtained. We assessed PA between four groups, based on income and GIS walkability (derived by a median split, low or high SES and low or high walkable). Results: No relationships between self-reported MVPA and GIS-measured walkability were found. Only intersection density was significantly, inversely associated with moderate and total MVPA (rho = −0.29 and rho = −0.31, respectively, p < 0.05). In the high SES group, vigorous PA was inversely associated with intersection density (rho = −0.39, p < 0.05). Self-report transport PA differed between groups ( p < 0.013). Conclusions: Results suggest that the construct of walkability may relate to volitional (leisure) and utilitarian (transport) PA differently, in highly inequitable settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Moses Isiagi & Kufre Joseph Okop & Estelle Victoria Lambert, 2021. "The Relationship between Physical Activity and the Objectively-Measured Built Environment in Low- and High-Income South African Communities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:3853-:d:531292
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Arlie Adkins & Carrie Makarewicz & Michele Scanze & Maia Ingram & Gretchen Luhr, 2017. "Contextualizing Walkability: Do Relationships Between Built Environments and Walking Vary by Socioeconomic Context?," Journal of the American Planning Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 83(3), pages 296-314, July.
    4. Broberg, Anna & Sarjala, Satu, 2015. "School travel mode choice and the characteristics of the urban built environment: The case of Helsinki, Finland," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 1-10.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yongjin Ahn & Jongho Won, 2022. "Built Environment and Outdoor Leisure Activity under the Individual Time Budgets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-14, September.

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