Characterization of the physical environment and practice of physical activities in Primary Health Care Units in Guarapuava, Paraná State, Brazil, 2011-2012

Abstract

to characterize the physical environment and physical activity (PA) in Primary Health Care Units (PHU) in the urban area of Guarapuava-PR, Brazil, 2011-2012. this is a descriptive study in which the coordinators of the municipality's 27 PHUs were interviewed about violence, crime and physical space and safety conditions for PAs inside and outside the PHUs; the streets surrounding the area were visited to evaluate environmental factors categorized as favorable or unfavorable to PA deployment and practice. the most common places for PA were grass areas (n=18) and churches (n=24); three fifths of PHUs presented factors favorable to PA deployment/practice; lack of sidewalks (14 PHUs) or uneven sidewalks (13 PHUs) surrounding the PHUs are conditions that could jeopardize the practice of walking. despite the identification of favorable factors for PA practice, at PHUs should be focused by health service managers.