title: [The association between proximity to sports facilities and participation in sports among 13-year-olds in the city of Porto, Portugal].
abstract: The built environment can influence sports practice. The objective of this study was to examine the association between proximity (< 500m) to sports facilities and participation in sports. We evaluated 1,175 13-year-olds (54% girls) enrolled in public and private schools in Porto, Portugal. Sports activity was assessed using a self-completed questionnaire. The adolescents' residences and sports facilities were georeferenced. A matrix of distances from each residence to the facilities was calculated. For the majority (87%) of the adolescents, there was at least one sports facility close to their place of residence. No statistically significant differences were found in participation in sports based on proximity to facilities (< 500m vs. > 500m); the proportions were 44% vs. 38% (p = 0.414) in girls and 72% vs. 61% (p = 0.094) in boys. In conclusion, proximity to sports facilities was not significantly associated with participation in sports.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Desporto, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas 135, Porto, Portugal. eliramos@med.up.pt
authors.forename: Roseanne Gomes
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Autran
authors.forename: Elisabete
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Maria de Fátima de
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: Pina
authors.forename: Maria Paula
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002947:Cities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011174:Portugal; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019876:Sports Equipment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires