Kelly, Cheryl M., Schootman, Mario, Baker, Elizabeth A. Bernidge, Ellen K., Lemes, Amanda
APA
Kelly, C. M., Schootman, M., Baker, E. A., Barnidge, E. K., & Lemes, A. (2007). The association of sidewalk walkability and physical disorder with area-level race and poverty. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 61(11), 978–983. doi:10.1136/jech.2006.054775
Keywords
Block Structures
,
Community Activity
,
Low Income Areas
,
Public Health
,
Sidewalk
Abstract
(no abstract available)
Introduction: There are significant differences in physical inactivity in various geographical areas and among demographic groups. Previous research suggests that walking is the most common form of physical activity; however, not all built environments support walking for recreational or transportation purposes.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which area-level factors, poverty rate and racial distribution, are associated with aspects of the street-scale environment (i.e. sidewalk walkability and physical disorder) using community audits.
Main finding
The results of this investigation suggest that neighbourhood disparities in rates of physical activity is correlated to investments made in community infrastructures and resources in neighborhoods that are mostly African-American. Aspects of the built environment differs in each neighborhood and seems to have an impact on the physical activity of its inhabitants.
Description of method used in the article
Methods: Street segments were randomly selected from 210 block groups. Pairs of trained auditors walked each street segment using an audit tool designed to capture aspects of the street environment. Multilevel logistic regression was used to assess the degree of neighborhood (i.e. block group) variation in sidewalk unevenness, sidewalk obstruction and the presence of physical disorder and the association with area-level characteristics.
Results: 1780 street segments were audited. Block groups that were predominantly African-American were 38 times more likely to have a lot of unevenness, 1 5 times more likely to have many obstructions, and 1 2 times more likely to have physical disorder. Poverty rate was not independently associated with sidewalk walkability; however, block groups with the highest poverty rates were 21 times more likely to have physical disorder.
Verdict
Of practical use