TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing physical activity in public parks in Brazil using systematic observation
AU - Parra, Diana C.
AU - McKenzie, Thomas L.
AU - Ribeiro, Isabela C.
AU - Hino, Adriano A.Ferreira
AU - Dreisinger, Marian
AU - Coniglio, Kathryn
AU - Munk, Marcia
AU - Brownson, Ross C.
AU - Pratt, Michael
AU - Hoehner, Christine M.
AU - Simoes, Eduardo J.
PY - 2010/8/1
Y1 - 2010/8/1
N2 - Objectives. We assessed park use in Recife, Brazil, and differences in physical activity and occupation rates in public parks with and without the Academia da Cidade Program (ACP), which provides cost-free, supervised physical activity classes. Methods. We used the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) in 128 targeted areas in 10 park sites (5 ACP sites, 5 non-ACP sites) to obtain data on the number of users and their physical activity levels and estimated age. Each area was assessed 4 times a day for 11 days over a 4-week period. Results. A total of 32 974 people were observed during 5589 observation visits to target areas. People using ACP parks were more likely to be seen engaging in moderate-to-vigorous (64% vs 49%) and vigorous (25% vs 10%) physical activity. Relatively more participants in ACP sites than in non-ACP sites were females (45% vs 42% of park users) and older adults (14.7% vs 5.7% of park users). Conclusions. On the basis of systematic observation, ACP appears to be a useful strategy in promoting park use and physical activity among the population in Recife.
AB - Objectives. We assessed park use in Recife, Brazil, and differences in physical activity and occupation rates in public parks with and without the Academia da Cidade Program (ACP), which provides cost-free, supervised physical activity classes. Methods. We used the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) in 128 targeted areas in 10 park sites (5 ACP sites, 5 non-ACP sites) to obtain data on the number of users and their physical activity levels and estimated age. Each area was assessed 4 times a day for 11 days over a 4-week period. Results. A total of 32 974 people were observed during 5589 observation visits to target areas. People using ACP parks were more likely to be seen engaging in moderate-to-vigorous (64% vs 49%) and vigorous (25% vs 10%) physical activity. Relatively more participants in ACP sites than in non-ACP sites were females (45% vs 42% of park users) and older adults (14.7% vs 5.7% of park users). Conclusions. On the basis of systematic observation, ACP appears to be a useful strategy in promoting park use and physical activity among the population in Recife.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77954504613&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77954504613&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2105/AJPH.2009.181230
DO - 10.2105/AJPH.2009.181230
M3 - Article
C2 - 20558792
AN - SCOPUS:77954504613
SN - 0090-0036
VL - 100
SP - 1420
EP - 1426
JO - American journal of public health
JF - American journal of public health
IS - 8
ER -