Noise annoyance, sociodemographic and health patterns, and neighborhood perceptions in a Brazilian metropolis: BH Health Study

Fernanda Abalen Martins Dias,Amélia Augusta De Lima Friche,César Coelho Xavier,Dário Alves Da Silva Costa,Fernando Augusto Proietti,Waleska Teixeira Caiaffa

doi:10.1590/1980-549720210038

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: The present study aims to analyze the association of noise annoyance with individual and sociodemographic factors and self-perception of the neighborhood in an urban center. Methods: Data were collected through a population-based cross-sectional study held in two of the nine health districts in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 2008 to 2009. The study included 3,934 individuals of both genders, aged 18 years and older. The response variable was the self-perception of noise, investigated by the question: “In your neighborhood, does the noise bother you?” The explanatory variables were grouped into the following domains: sociodemographic, social determinants, self-rated health, and self-reported diseases. Results: The prevalence of noise annoyance was 47% for women and 39.8% for men. For both genders, noise annoyance was independently associated with bad traffic and the presence of loud music, discussions, and late-night parties. Conclusion: Gender differences were identified in the association of noise annoyance with sociodemographic characteristics and self-reported morbidity. Traffic and social customs were the main sources of noise in the regions under study.

Highlights

Urbanization as a global phenomenon led to the restructuring of the nature of cities and, as a consequence, caused unfavorable health and well-being conditions[1]
Regarding the health vulnerability index (HVI), 18.8% lived in low-risk census tracts, 38.3% lived in moderate-risk census tracts, and 42.9% lived in high- or very high-risk census tracts
The present study analyzed individual characteristics and environmental perceptions related to annoyance produced by noise, revealing that the variables bad traffic and presence of loud music, discussions, and late-night parties are independently associated with self-perceived noise annoyance

Summary

Introduction

Urbanization as a global phenomenon led to the restructuring of the nature of cities and, as a consequence, caused unfavorable health and well-being conditions[1]. Among the unfavorable environmental conditions associated with urbanization, noise is an invisible threat to the health of urban dwellers[2]. Noise consists of a combination of sounds coming from different sources such as: traffic of cars, buses, trains, and airplanes; industrial activities; leisure and sports activities, making it difficult to measure the isolated annoyance produced by each source. In 2018, the World Health Organization updated its guidelines for Europe and classified health outcomes related to exposure to urban noise as critical and important. We can mention: cardiovascular diseases, annoyance, sleep disorders, cognitive impairment, hearing loss, and tinnitus. Important outcomes included adverse obstetric outcomes, quality of life, well-being, and mental health, as well as metabolic disorders[3]

Methods

Results

Conclusion