Neighborhood Factors and Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic for Black Pregnant Individuals

Abstract

Background Maternal physical activity is associated with a decreased risk of adverse birth outcomes. Levels of physical activity have been linked to the neighborhood residential environment. This pilot study explored the relationship between neighborhood factors and physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic for Black pregnant individuals. Methods Black individuals enrolled in the Biosocial Impact on Black Births (BIBB) study who were still pregnant at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic were surveyed between May and June 2020. Thirty-three participants completed the online survey. Participants were asked about demographics, perceived neighborhood environment (disorder, crime, walkability, racial composition), housing type, and physical activity changes since the pandemic. Results The participants were 20-39 years old with all but one in the third trimester of pregnancy. The majority were unemployed and identified as having “barely enough” or “not enough” money to get by. Sixty-one percent of participants reported decreased physical activity levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Living in an apartment or residing in neighborhoods with lower levels of walkability or higher levels of disorder and crime were associated with lower physical activity levels. Participants who reported higher levels of perceived neighborhood disorder and crime and lower levels of walkability were less likely to report walking in their neighborhood or park. Relationships were suggestive but were not statistically significant at the 0.05 level. Discussion The results suggest that housing type and neighborhood environment relate to physical activity levels. We are not aware of any published studies on physical activity during the pandemic among pregnant Black individuals. The small sample size limits statistical power to detect statistically significant results. Conclusion While already a group reporting a low rate of physical activity, levels may have further decreased for Black pregnant individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially those in apartments and in a worse neighborhood environment.