Munizaga B.1, Nazar J.2, Ortega S.2, Bahamondes P.1, Merino-Osorio C.1, Besomi M.1, Leppe J.1
1Universidad del Desarrollo, School of Physical Therapy, Santiago, Chile, 2Universidad del Desarrollo, Faculty of Architecture and Art, Santiago, Chile
Background: Physical inactivity is a global pandemic that increases the risk of many adverse health-related conditions, including major non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, it is responsible for over 5 millions of deaths annually, and represents one of the Union Nation's primary targets to reduce such diseases.
Purpose: Municipal parks and squares could be used as part of major strategies oriented to promote Physical Activity (PA) practice among specific populations, such as elderly. The aim of this study was to determine the PA level, sedentary behavior and use of municipal parks and squares in Chilean elderly population of three boroughs with different socioeconomic levels in Santiago de Chile.
Methods: A survey was conducted in three boroughs from Santiago-Chile, corresponding to low-, middle- and high-socioeconomic levels. A specific neighborhood from each borough was selectively randomized. The survey collected information on: socio-demographic characteristics, PA through Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and use of municipal parks and squares. The variable active was defined using WHO recommendations (150 min/week of moderate or vigorous PA). The recruitment process was performed using a systematic sampling of households located within 300 meters from squares and parks in each visited neighborhood. Respondents included in this study were all those aged between 60 and 70 years, with more than one-year of residence in their neighborhood. Subjects with physical or mental disabilities were excluded from this study. All analysis was performed using STATA13.0 software.
Results: A total of n=217 responses was collected (64.1% women), with a mean age of 64.9±3.2 years. From all respondents, 95.8% lived more than 5 years in their current neighborhood. According to the GPAQ leisure-time dimension, 20.7% were reported as active in low=16.7% middle=10.9% and high-level=33.3% socioeconomic levels (p 0.05). The main cause reported for not performed physical activity were the lack of time (32%) and health-related problems (18,75%) in low= 43,4% and 9,4%, middle= 20.4% and 22.7%, and high= 29.0% and 29.0% socioeconomic levels, respectively. The 36,4% reported as frequently going to parks and/or squares (at least once a week), in low=20,5% middle=53,1% and high-level=38,6% socioeconomic levels. From all respondents, 76,7% reports that it takes less than 10 minutes to arrive to the nearest place to perform physical activity (parks and/or squares). The most reported performed activity was walking (25,8%) in low=20% middle=25% and high-level=29,5% socioeconomic levels. No statistically significant association between levels of physical activity and use of squares and parks (p>0.05) were found.
Conclusion(s): The PA level reported in elderly is low. The accessibility to municipal parks and squares is good, and not dependent of neighborhood or boroughs. Health-related problems are an opportunity for promoting PA practice.
Implications: The use of public space, squares and parks, is an opportunity to encourage physical activity in elderly population. Programs created and performed by physiotherapists could be an option for those who believe their health-related problems might be a barrier to perform physical activity.
Funding acknowledgements: This study was funding by "Universidad del Desarrollo" of Santiago Chile.
Topic: Older people
Ethics approval: The ethics committee that approved my study was "Comité Ético Científico de la Universidad del Desarrollo"
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
