title: Rural Neighborhood Walkability: Implications for Assessment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity levels, including walking, are lower in the southern U.S., particularly in rural areas. This study investigated the concept of rural neighborhood walkability to aid in developing tools for assessing walkability and to identify intervention targets in rural communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews were conducted with physically active adults (n = 29) in rural Georgia. Mean age of participants was 55.9 years; 66% were male, 76% were white, and 24% were African American. Participants drew maps of their neighborhoods and discussed the relevance of typical domains of walkability to their decisions to exercise. Comparative analyses were conducted to identify major themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority felt the concept of neighborhood was applicable and viewed their neighborhood as small geographically (less than 0.5 square miles). Sidewalks were not viewed as essential for neighborhood-based physical activity and typical destinations for walking were largely absent. Destinations within walking distance included neighbors' homes and bodies of water. Views were mixed on whether shade, safety, dogs, and aesthetics affected decisions to exercise in their neighborhoods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measures of neighborhood walkability in rural areas should acknowledge the small size of self-defined neighborhoods, that walking in rural areas is likely for leisure time exercise, and that some domains may not be relevant.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory Prevention Research Center, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Michelle C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kegler
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alcantara
authors.forename: Regine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haardörfer
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gemma
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ballard
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gazmararian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012424:Rural Population; D012449:Safety; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water