J 2015

Assessment of environmental determinants of physical activity: a study of built environment indicators in Brno, Czech Republic

DERFLEROVÁ BRÁZDOVÁ, Zuzana, Helena KLIMUSOVÁ, Dalibor HRUŠKA, Alice PROKOPOVÁ, Aleš BURJANEK et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Assessment of environmental determinants of physical activity: a study of built environment indicators in Brno, Czech Republic

Authors

DERFLEROVÁ BRÁZDOVÁ, Zuzana (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Helena KLIMUSOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Dalibor HRUŠKA (203 Czech Republic), Alice PROKOPOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Aleš BURJANEK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Kräuff Rainer SCHWANHAEUSER WULFF (170 Colombia, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Central European Journal of Public Health, Prague, National Institute of Public Health, 2015, 1210-7778

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

30301 Social biomedical sciences

Country of publisher

Czech Republic

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Impact factor

Impact factor: 0.525

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14110/15:00084837

Organization unit

Faculty of Medicine

UT WoS

000368324000005

Keywords in English

social determinants; walking environment; cycle lanes; playground aesthetics; pavements

Tags

Tags

International impact, Reviewed
Změněno: 15/2/2020 14:51, Mgr. Vojtěch Juřík, Ph.D.

Abstract

V originále

Background: 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 to test 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: 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, promoting an increase in physical activity at the population level.