Perceived Urban Environment Attributes And Device-measured Physical Activity In Latin America: An Eight-national Study

PURPOSE: Attributes of the neighborhood built environment are associated with self-reported physical activity but only a few studies have concentrated on device-measured physical activity in Latin America. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of perceived neighborhood built environment attributes and device-measured sedentary time, light-intensity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in adults from eight Latin American countries. METHODS: This was a multi-national cross-sectional study of 2478 adults from eight Latin America countries (i.e., Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela). Perceived neighborhood built environment attributes were measured using the Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Survey. Sedentary time, light-intensity physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity data were collected using accelerometers. Linear regression models (β coefficient; 95%CI) was estimated. RESULTS: No associations between different perceived neighborhood built environment attributes and sedentary time were found. Positive perceptions of walking/cycling facilities (β: 6.50; 95%CI: 2.12,10.39) were associated with more light-intensity physical activity. Perceptions of better aesthetics (Argentina) and better walking/cycling facilities (Brazil and Ecuador) were positively associated with light-intensity physical activity. Land use mix-diversity (0.14; 0.03,0.25), walking/cycling facilities (0.16; 0.05,0.27), aesthetics (0.16; 0.02,0.30), and safety from traffic (0.18; 0.05,0.24) were positively associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Land use mix-diversity, street connectivity, and safety from traffic were positively associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in Venezuela. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings have implications for policy recommendations which can in turn guide policies to promote physical activity in the region. Land use mix-diversity, walking/cycling facilities, aesthetics, and safety from traffic can maintain or increase levels of light-intensity physical activity or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among Latin American adults.