Perceived Characteristics of the Built Neighborhood Environment and Negative Self-Rated Health in Brazilian Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction Research indicates that self-rated health is associated with worse health outcomes in older adults. Thus, it is important to assess the association between built neighborhoods and self-rated health to establish strategies to improve the quality of life in the older adult population. Objective To evaluate the association between the perceived characteristics of the built neighborhood and the negative self-rated health in Brazilian community-dwelling older adults. Methods A cross-sectional study for finite random samples was performed with older adults who used the municipal public health service. The outcome was negative self-rated health using the question “How do you perceive your health?” The regular, bad, and very bad responses were grouped as negative self-perception. The exposure variables were the perceived characteristics of the built neighborhood, which was evaluated by the adapted version of the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale. Results A total of 308 older adults were analyzed. Living close to food establishments (OR: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.25;0.85), fitness/bodybuilding gyms and/or clubs (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.28;0.93), and safety to walk during the day (OR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.16;0.87) and night (OR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.26;0.84) were protective against negative self-rated health. Conclusion Therefore, living in neighborhoods with better characteristics was less associated with negative self-rated health, demonstrating the importance of promoting strategies to improve the neighborhood infrastructure and this population’s perception of health.