Abstract
BackgroundNumerous area-based initiatives (ABIs) have been implemented in deprived neighbourhoods across Europe. These large-scale initiatives aim to tackle the socio-economic and environmental problems in these areas that might influence physical activity (PA). There is little robust evidence of their impact on PA. This study aimed to assess the impact of a Dutch ABI called the District Approach on trends in leisure-time PA in deprived districts.MethodsRepeated cross-sectional data on 48401 adults across the Netherlands were obtained from the Integrated Survey on Household Living Conditions (POLS) 2004–2011. 1517 of these adults resided in deprived target districts and 46884 adults resided elsewhere in the Netherlands. In a quasi-experimental interrupted time-series design, multilevel logistic regression analyses were performed to assess trends in leisure-time walking, cycling, and sports before and during the intervention. Trends in deprived target districts were compared with trends in various control groups. The role of the intensity of environmental interventions was also assessed.ResultsDeprived target districts showed a significantly positive change in walking trend between the pre-intervention and intervention period. The trend change in the deprived target districts was significantly larger compared to the rest of the Netherlands, but not compared to other deprived districts. For cycling and sports, neither deprived districts nor control districts showed a significant trend change. For all leisure-time PA outcomes, trend changes were not related to the intensity of environmental interventions in the deprived target districts.ConclusionSome evidence was found to suggest that ABIs like the District Approach have a positive impact on leisure-time PA in deprived districts, regardless of the intensity of environmental interventions.
Highlights
Residents of deprived neighbourhoods have consistently been found to be less physically active than residents of non-deprived neighbourhoods, independent of their individual socio-economic status [1,2,3,4,5,6]
The trend in walking changed from a slightly negative trend before the District Approach (β: −0.04; 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.08 – 0.00) to a positive trend during the District Approach (β: 0.11; 95% CI: 0.04 – 0.18)
There was some evidence that area-based initiatives (ABIs) like the Dutch District Approach might have a positive effect on leisure-time physical activity (PA) behaviour in deprived areas
Summary
Residents of deprived neighbourhoods have consistently been found to be less physically active than residents of non-deprived neighbourhoods, independent of their individual socio-economic status [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Numerous area-based initiatives (ABIs) have been implemented in deprived neighbourhoods across WesternEurope [7]. These large-scale initiatives aim to tackle the ABIs may affect PA behaviour via different pathways. Stronger community bonds may enlarge social support and companionship for PA, which have consistently been associated with higher levels of PA [15,16]. Numerous area-based initiatives (ABIs) have been implemented in deprived neighbourhoods across Europe. These large-scale initiatives aim to tackle the socio-economic and environmental problems in these areas that might influence physical activity (PA). This study aimed to assess the impact of a Dutch ABI called the District Approach on trends in leisure-time PA in deprived districts
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