Parque público e criminalidade: preditores ambientais da percepção de (in)segurança / Public park and crime: environmental predictors of the perception of (in)security

O modelo da prevenção criminal pelo design ambiental (Crime Prevention through Environmental Design - CPTED) enfatiza como elementos do ambiente podem inibir ou induzir a ocorrência de vários tipos de delitos e a percepção de insegurança. Isso é especialmente estratégico em locais de uso múltiplo e de livre acesso, como no caso dos parques públicos em grandes cidades. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi testar o papel preditivo de variáveis especificadas pela CPTED sobre a percepção de segurança, com base em um survey in loco com 126 usuários de parque público, incluindo itens sobre hábitos, ocorrências criminais, avaliação do ambiente e variáveis sociodemográficas. Modelos de regressão linear hierárquica mostraram que sexo, experiências de vitimização e a avaliação da infraestrutura funcionaram como variáveis antecedentes adequadas. Os resultados são discutidos no contexto do cenário criminal brasileiro, da inércia da população e, sobretudo, das possibilidades de intervenção em políticas públicas de segurança.

The model of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) emphasizes how elements of the environment may inhibit or induce the occurrence of various types of crime and the perception of insecurity. This is especially strategic in places of multiple uses and free access, as in the case of public parks in big cities. The objective of this research was to test the predictive role of variables specified by CPTED on the perception of security, based on a survey in loco with 126 public park users, including items on habits, criminal occurrences, environmental assessment and sociodemographic variables. Hierarchical linear regression models showed that sex, experiences of victimization, and the evaluation of infrastructure worked as appropriate background variables. The results are discussed in the context of the Brazilian criminal scenario, the inertia of the population and, above all, the possibilities of intervention in public policies for security.

Factors associated with environmental barriers of people with disabilities in Mexico

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between sociodemographic, health and disability-related factors and the perception of environmental barriers outside the home environment by individuals with permanent disabilities in Mexico. METHODS: In this cross-sectional, population-based study, we used data from the 2010 National Survey of Perceptions of Disability in the Mexican Population of 2,041 participants older than 18 with permanent disability. The perceptions of barriers take into consideration the challenges of getting around and using transportation outside the home environment. The covariates consisted of sociodemographic, health-related and disability-related factors. Multivariate logistic regression was used. RESULTS: The perception of environmental barriers outside the home environment was associated with being a woman, living in an urban area, speaking an indigenous language, experiencing emotional symptoms, having walking/movement, visual or self-care disabilities, having severe/extreme disability, having disability caused by illness, using physical devices, and receiving assistance and care in the home environment. CONCLUSIONS: This information is valuable for the design of public policies and programs that promote the participation of individuals with permanent disabilities, a high-priority issue in low- and middle-income countries.

Iniquidades do ambiente construído relacionado à atividade física no entorno de escolas públicas de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil / Inequidades del ambiente construido, relacionado con la actividad física, en el entorno de escuelas públicas de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil / Iniquities in the built environment related to physical activity in public school neighborhoods in Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil

Resumo: O objetivo do estudo foi investigar a associação entre as características do ambiente relacionado à atividade física com a renda em áreas de entorno escolar em Curitiba, Paraná. Foram auditados 888 segmentos de rua com um instrumento de observação sistemática em três seções (Rotas, Segmentos e Cruzamentos) no raio de 500 metros ao redor de 30 escolas públicas. O escore total foi a soma das seções. Dados de renda do entorno escolar foram obtidos do Censo Demográfico de 2010, e a distância linear de cada escola até o centro da cidade foi calculada. Modelos multiníveis (nível um segmento e nível dois escola) foram aplicados na análise, com estimativas de médias ponderadas e correlações intraclasse (ICC). Na análise bruta, a maior variabilidade entre as escolas foi observada na seção Segmentos (ICC = 0,41), e a menor, na seção Rotas (ICC = 0,19). Os segmentos de rua localizados no entorno de escolas do primeiro tercil de renda alcançaram uma média ajustada de 15,6 (IC95%: 13,0-18,3) no escore total, quase metade daqueles de renda maior, que atingiram 30,7 (IC95%: 28,0-33,5) pontos, com diferença significativa entre os tercis (p < 0,001). O escore das áreas mais centrais foi 30,1 (IC95%: 26,9-33,4), significativamente maior (p < 0,001) se comparado àquelas mais periféricas em que a pontuação foi 16,3 (IC95%: 12,8-19,8). As características do ambiente avaliadas nas seções Rotas e Segmentos, além do escore total, mostraram-se associadas com a menor renda. Ambiente de pior qualidade em áreas de menor renda é uma das iniquidades que precisa ser enfrentada nas metrópoles brasileiras e que pode contribuir para a melhoria da saúde das pessoas.

Resumen: El objetivo del estudio fue investigar la asociación entre las características del ambiente relacionado con la actividad física, con la renta en áreas del entorno escolar en Curitiba, Paraná. Se auditaron 888 segmentos de calle con un instrumento de observación sistemática en tres secciones (Rutas, Segmentos y Cruces) en un radio de 500 metros alrededor de 30 escuelas públicas. El marcador total fue la suma de las secciones. Los datos de renta del entorno escolar se obtuvieron del Censo Demográfico de 2010, y se calculó la distancia lineal de cada escuela hasta el centro de la ciudad. Modelos multiniveles (nivel uno segmento y nivel dos escuela) se aplicaron en el análisis, con estimativas de medias ponderadas y correlaciones intraclase (ICC). En el análisis bruto, la mayor variabilidad entre las escuelas se observó en la sección Segmentos (ICC = 0,41), y la menor, en la sección Rutas (ICC = 0,19). Los segmentos de calle, localizados en el entorno de escuelas del primer tercil de renta, alcanzaron una media ajustada de 15,6 (IC95%: 13,0-18,3) en el marcador total, casi la mitad de aquellos de renta mayor, que alcanzaron 30,7 (IC95%: 28,0-33,5) puntos, con diferencia significativa entre los terciles (p < 0,001). El marcador de las áreas más centrales fue 30,1 (IC95%: 26,9-33,4), significativamente mayor (p < 0,001), si se compara a aquellas más periféricas, donde la puntuación fue 16,3 (IC95%: 12,8-19,8). Las características del ambiente evaluadas en las secciones Rutas y Segmentos, además del marcador total, se mostraron asociadas con una menor renta. Un ambiente de peor calidad en áreas de menor renta es una de las inequidades contra las que se necesita luchar en las metrópolis brasileñas y que puede contribuir a la mejora de la salud de las personas.

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the association between the characteristics of the environment related to physical activity and income in areas around schools in Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil. A total of 888 street segments were audited with a systematic observation instrument in three sections (Routes, Segments, and Crossings) in a radius of 500 meters around 30 public schools. The total score was the sum of the sections. Data on income in the school neighborhood were obtained from the 2010 Population Census, and the linear distance from each school to the city center was calculated. Multilevel models (level one = segment; level two = school) were applied to the analysis, with estimates of weighted means and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). In the crude analysis, the highest variability between schools was observed in the Segments section (ICC = 0.41) and the lowest in the Routes section (ICC = 0.19). The street segments located around schools in the lowest income tertile reach an adjusted mean total score of 15.6 (95%CI: 13.0-18.3), nearly half of that in those with the highest income, which reached 30.7 points (95%CI; 28.0-33.5), with a significant difference between the tertiles (p < 0.001). The score for the more central areas of the city was 30.1 (95%CI: 26.9-33.4), significantly higher (p < 0.001) than for the more peripheral areas, where the score was 16.3 (95%CI: 12.8-19.8). The characteristics of the environment assessed by the Routes and Segments sections, in addition to the total score, were associated with the lowest income. An environment with worse quality in lower income areas is one of the iniquities that needs to be faced in Brazil's metropolises in order to help improve the people's health.

Association between body mass index and individual characteristics and the school context: a multilevel study with Portuguese children / Relação entre o índice de massa corporal e as características individuais e do contexto escolar: um estudo multinível com crianças portuguesas

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to examine the association between individual and school context characteristics with the body mass index of Portuguese children. Methods The sample comprised 1641 children (847 boys) aged 6-10 years from the North and Central regions of Portugal. Regarding the individual characteristics, age, gender, city of residence, levels of physical activity, and physical fitness were assessed. Concerning the school context characteristics, the surrounding environment, school size, presence of recreational characteristics and space, and presence of a sports court and of physical education classes were considered. Children's body mass index was the dependent variable. The multilevel analysis was carried out in HLM 7.0 software. Results The predictors of the child and the school context explained, respectively, 97.3% and 2.7% of the total body mass index variance. Regarding the individual characteristics, older children, boys, and those who had lower performance at the 1-mile run/walk, curl-up, push-up, and higher performance in trunk lift tests showed higher BMI. Further, urban schools with higher recreational spaces were positively associated with children's body mass index. Conclusion School context variables have a reduced effect on body mass index variation compared to the children's biological and behavioral characteristics. The authors therefore encourage strategies that aim to increasing children's physical fitness levels to help prevent excess weight.

Resumo Objetivo Examinar a associação de características individuais e do contexto escolar no índice de massa corporal de crianças portuguesas. Método A amostra compreendeu 1.641 crianças (847 meninos) de 6 a 10 anos. Em relação às características individuais foram utilizadas informações relativas ao sexo, à idade, à residência, à atividade física e à aptidão física. Em termos de contexto escolar, foram considerados o meio ambiente, o tamanho da escola, a presença de recreio, as características e as dimensões do espaço disponível para o recreio, a existência de quadra poliesportiva e de aulas de educação física. O índice de massa corporal [kg/(m2)] foi a variável dependente. A análise multinível foi efetuada no software HLM 7.0. Resultados Os preditores da criança e do contexto escolar explicaram, respectivamente, 97,3% e 2,7% da variância total do índice de massa corporal. Quanto às características individuais, a idade (mais velhos) e o sexo (meninos), bem como o desempenho reduzido nas provas de corrida/marcha da milha, do curl-up, do push-up e valores elevados no trunk lift, estiveram associados ao aumento no índice de massa corporal. Escolas do meio urbano e escolas com maiores espaços para o recreio também estiveram positivamente associadas ao aumento do índice de massa corporal. Conclusões As variáveis do contexto escolar têm um efeito reduzido na variação do índice de massa corporal comparativamente às características biológicas e comportamentais das crianças. Sugere-se a aplicação de programas que visem ao incremento dos níveis de aptidão física das crianças para prevenir o excesso de peso na infância.

The Role of Social Support and the Neighborhood Environment on Physical Activity in Low-income, Mexican-American Women in South Texas / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationships between physical activity (PA), the neighborhood environment support for PA, and social support for PA among Mexican-American women living in South Texas. The Enlace study was a randomized controlled trial that tested the effectiveness of a promotora-led PA intervention among low-income Mexican origin women (n=614) living in colonias. METHODS: The dependent measures included accelerometer-measured average moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary breaks and the Community Health Activities Model Program for Seniors PA 41-item questionnaire. The independent measures included the Physical Activity and Neighborhood Environment Scale (PANES) and the 13-item Physical Activity Social Support (PASS) scale. RESULTS: Enlace participants were on average 40.4 (standard deviation, 10.3) years old, born in Mexico (86.1%), and uninsured (83.1%). Adjusted linear regression results indicated that each 1-point increment in the PANES overall score was associated with 0.050 (p < 0.001) unit increase in sedentary break and a −0.043 (p=0.001) unit decrease in sedentary break duration. Both PANES (β=0.296; p=0.002) and PASS scores (β=0.076; p < 0.001) were associated with weekly average self-reported MVPA. Interaction effects were observed between PASS scores and accelerometer-measured frequency of sedentary breaks and sedentary time duration. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study indicate that the relationships between PA and built environment and social support are measure-dependent and suggest that reducing sedentary time in this population may require a closer assessment of social support for PA.