Assessing physical activity in public parks in Brazil using systematic observation.

Publisher: American Public Health Association Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 1254074 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1541-0048 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00900036 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Am J Public Health Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: Washington, DC : American Public Health Association
Original Publication: New York [etc.]

Exercise* ; Recreation*; Data Collection/*methods ; Health Promotion/*organization & administration ; Observation/*methods ; Public Facilities/*statistics & numerical data; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brazil ; Child ; Female ; Health Services Research ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Observer Variation ; Program Evaluation/methods ; Research Design ; Research Personnel/education ; Time Factors ; Urban Health/statistics & numerical data

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.

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U48 DP000060 United States DP NCCDPHP CDC HHS; U48/DP000060-02 United States DP NCCDPHP CDC HHS

Date Created: 20100619 Date Completed: 20100729 Latest Revision: 20220410

20231215

PMC2901293

10.2105/AJPH.2009.181230

20558792