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Inequities in Access: Public Open Spaces and Physical Activity Disparities Among Brazilian Preschoolers in Vulnerable
Anastácio Neco de Souza Filho1, Rogério César Fermino2, Thaynã Alves Bezerra1
1Department of Physical Education, Regional University of Cariri, Iguatu, CE, Brazil.
Insights
Public open spaces (POS) in low-income neighborhoods influence children's physical activity (PA). Greater distance to POS may increase active travel, but quality and safety are crucial for preschoolers' PA levels.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Urban Planning
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Public open spaces (POS) are linked to increased physical activity (PA) in children.
- Evidence on POS impact in vulnerable populations, like low-income neighborhoods, is limited.
- Understanding POS characteristics influencing PA in preschoolers is crucial for health equity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how POS characteristics (distance, quality, parental perception) affect PA in preschoolers from low-income areas.
- To identify factors promoting or hindering physical activity in socially vulnerable urban settings.
- To inform urban planning strategies for enhancing child PA in underserved communities.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 128 preschoolers (3-5 years) in Northeastern Brazil.
- Accelerometry measured moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and total PA (TPA).
- POS accessibility, quality, and parental perceptions were assessed; data analyzed using logistic regression.
Main Results:
- A larger Euclidean distance to POS correlated with higher odds of meeting MVPA recommendations (OR=6.34).
- Increased walking distance, higher POS quality, and perceived nighttime safety significantly predicted TPA levels.
- POS distance and quality showed differentiated impacts on preschoolers' PA.
Conclusions:
- In vulnerable areas, POS distance and quality uniquely influence preschoolers' PA.
- While distance may promote active commuting, POS quality and safety are essential for sustained PA.
- Equitable urban planning is vital to optimize POS for children in low-income communities.
Background:
Public open spaces (POS) can promote physical activity (PA) in children, but evidence of their role in vulnerable contexts remains limited. This study examines how POS characteristics (distance, quality, and parental perception) influence PA among preschoolers in low-income neighborhoods.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study was conducted in public preschools in peripheral neighborhoods of a capital city in Northeastern Brazil. Moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) and total PA (TPA) of 128 preschoolers aged 3-5 (56.9% male) were measured using accelerometry. POS accessibility and quality were assessed using the Physical Activity Resource Assessment and Geographic Information Systems. Parental perceptions of the neighborhood and sociodemographic data were collected through interviews. Binary (for MVPA) and ordinal (for TPA) logistic regressions tested associations, adjusting for sex, age, maternal education, and income (P < .05).
Results:
Preschoolers' mean MVPA time was 67.6 (20.0) and TPA time was 296.6 (52.4). A greater Euclidean distance from home to the POS was associated with greater odds of meeting MVPA recommendations (odds ratio [OR] = 6.34; P < .01). Greater walking distance (OR = 2.23; P = .02), higher POS quality (OR = 1.05; P < .01), and nighttime safety (OR = 0.39; P = .02) significantly predicted TPA levels.
Conclusion:
In socially vulnerable environments, POS distance and quality play differentiated roles in preschoolers' PA. Although a greater distance may encourage active travel, the quality and safety of POS remain critical to PA. Therefore, equitable urban planning is necessary to optimize POS resources for preschoolers in vulnerable communities.
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