Perceived environment and public open space use: a study with adults from Curitiba, Brazil.

Rogério César Fermino,Rodrigo Siqueira Reis,José Cazuza De Farias Júnior,Pedro Curi Hallal

doi:10.1186/1479-5868-10-35

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the association between the perceived environment and the use of public open spaces (POS).MethodsA cross-sectional study with household surveys was conducted in 1,461 adults from Curitiba, Brazil interviewed in person. The perceived environment was evaluated with the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale, and the POS use was evaluated using the ordinal scale (increased use). ResultsThe presence of interesting objects, heavy traffic, and the number of positive attributes of the environment was positively associated with POS use among men, and the presence of trees was associated with the use among women.ConclusionsManagers should invest in the architectural attractiveness of neighborhoods and should plant and conserve trees to encourage POS use.

Highlights

Public open spaces (POS) such as parks, green areas and recreational facilities can help promote healthy living for people in urban areas by providing opportunities for physical activity practices and leisure activities
Eight out of ten participants reported that it is safe to walk during the day, but the same proportion of people felt unsafe walking at night
Only the presence of trees in the neighborhood streets increased the likelihood of using the spaces. These findings indicate that favorable environments can stimulate public open spaces (POS) use

Summary

Introduction

Public open spaces (POS) such as parks, green areas and recreational facilities can help promote healthy living for people in urban areas by providing opportunities for physical activity practices and leisure activities. Recent reviews have documented an association between proximity and access to POS with higher levels of physical activity in youths and adults [4,5]. These findings were reported in high-income countries such as North America, Europe and Oceania [1,2,6], which limits the applicability of the results to other social and economic contexts such as low- and middleincome countries. In Curitiba, Brazil, the Several characteristics of the physical and social environment may influence the choice and use of POS in high-income countries [1]. Conclusions: Managers should invest in the architectural attractiveness of neighborhoods and should plant and conserve trees to encourage POS use.

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