title: Walkability and physical activity: findings from Curitiba, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence from developing countries is limited on how income level for a given neighborhood is related to physical activity among its residents.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal of the study was to examine the association between walkability and physical activity outcomes, and the effect of income on the relationship between walkability and physical activity in adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Spaces for Physical Activity in Adults Study (ESPACOS Project) took place in Curitiba, Brazil. Data were collected in 2010 in 32 census tracts selected to vary in income and walkability, as measured by GIS. Participants were 697 individuals aged 18-65 years (52.0% were women) randomly sampled from the selected neighborhoods. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to measure physical activity. All analyses were conducted in 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of those who walked for transportation for ≥ 150 minutes/week was 21.1% in low-walkability areas, and ranged from 33.5% to 35.0% in high-walkability areas. A total of 12.6% of residents were found to walk for leisure for ≥ 150 minutes/week; this result did not vary across quadrants of walkability and income level. The prevalence of leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was 7.1-10.5 percentage points higher in high-compared to low-walkability areas. After adjusting for all individual confounders, walkability showed an independent association with walking for transport (OR=2.10, 95% CI=1.31, 3.37, p=0.002) and leisure-time MVPA (OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.06, 2.32, p=0.024). Neighborhood income level was independently associated with leisure-time MVPA (OR=1.70, 95% CI=1.06, 2.74, p=0.029). No association was found between walkability and walking for leisure. No interaction was found between walkability and neighborhood income level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study, among adults living in Curitiba, Brazil, confirms findings from studies of high-income countries showing that walkability is positively associated with physical activity. People living in high-walkability areas were more likely to be physically active regardless of their neighborhood income level.
authors: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, School of Health and Biosciences, Parana, Brazil. reis.rodrigo@pucpr.br
authors: Rodrigo
authors: R
authors: Siqueira Reis
authors: Adriano Akira Ferreira
authors: AA
authors: Hino
authors: Cassiano
authors: C
authors: Ricardo Rech
authors: Jacqueline
authors: J
authors: Kerr
authors: Pedro
authors: P
authors: Curi Hallal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014186:Transportation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
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