1
|
Min J, Tam V, Fein JA, Vasan A, Griffis HM, Krass P, Doupnik SK. Psychosocial Risks and Adolescent Mental Health: The Moderating Role of Objective Neighborhood Characteristics. J Adolesc Health 2024; 75:442-450. [PMID: 39001747 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Although previous studies have examined the association between youth psychosocial risks and their perceptions of their neighborhood, it is unclear how objective neighborhood characteristics are associated with psychosocial risks and mental health symptoms among adolescents. We investigated how neighborhood characteristics moderate the relationship between youth psychosocial characteristics and mental health symptoms. METHODS This cross-sectional study examined 13,837 emergency department visits by 14-18-year-olds who completed a standardized Behavioral Health Screening in a tertiary pediatric hospital in Philadelphia from 2013 to 2020. Psychosocial risk factors and mental health symptoms were assessed based on self-reported survey responses. We characterized neighborhoods as low-, moderate-, and high-stress based on gun violence incidence from 2013 to 2020 and the census tract-level Child Opportunity Index. Mixed effects logistic regression and Poisson models were used to examine moderation effects. RESULTS The 9,814 included patients were 64% female and 64% non-Hispanic Black. The following psychosocial risk factors were associated with two to eight times higher odds of depressive symptoms and suicide risk: exposure to trauma, bullying at school, at-risk substance use, fighting, and retaliation. Adolescents living in high-stress neighborhoods were twice as likely to report fighting and retaliation and reported more psychosocial risk factors than those in low-stress neighborhoods. Odds of mental health symptoms increased with the number of psychosocial risk factors, particularly in youth from low-stress neighborhoods. DISCUSSION Objective neighborhood characteristics had a significant interaction effect on the relationship between psychosocial risks and depression and suicide risk among adolescents seeking care in a pediatric emergency department.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jungwon Min
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Vicky Tam
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Joel A Fein
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Center for Violence Prevention, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Aditi Vasan
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Center for Violence Prevention, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness and PolicyLab, Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Heather M Griffis
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Polina Krass
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Center for Violence Prevention, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness and PolicyLab, Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Stephanie K Doupnik
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness and PolicyLab, Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chen F, She W, Zeng F, Gao M, Wen C, Liu G, Wu L, Wu Y, Zhang C. Optimization strategy of community planning for environmental health and public health in smart city under multi-objectives. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1347122. [PMID: 38420025 PMCID: PMC10899508 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1347122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
As population density increases, environmental hygiene and public health become increasingly severe. As the space where residents stay for the longest time and have the most profound impact on their physical and mental health, the quality of the environment in urban communities largely determines the degree to which residents engage in physical activity, bear the risk of pollution exposure, and obtain healthy food. Therefore, in order to ensure the physical and mental health of residents, this study proposes community planning guided by environmental hygiene and public health, and establishes an environmental health assessment system for this purpose. This system evaluates the community environment from four aspects: land use, service facilities, site convenience, and environmental quality. Established the diversity, density, road network connectivity and facilities accessibility nine criteria, as well as the land function of mix, plot ratio, food environment, network ring α and connected β index, pavement risk level, green configuration and neighborhood material environment disorder degree of 27 indicators of community built environmental evaluation index system. The data is collected through field survey, questionnaire distribution, resident interview and data mapping, and the established evaluation index system is used to evaluate the construction environment of the community. The experimental research data included population data, CAD plan, land use data, street data, POI point data, building data and bus station data, etc. 273 questionnaires were distributed, 264 were recovered, 8 invalid questionnaires were removed, and 256 valid questionnaires were obtained. These experiments confirm that land use, service facilities, site convenience, and environmental quality have a significant impact on the built environment of communities, with impact weights of 0.513, 0.227, 0.135, and 0.125, respectively. The above weights are calculated based on the index judgment matrix and the eigenvectors. The scores of land use, service facilities, site convenience, and environmental quality for the study subjects were 3.44, 1.46, 0.94, and 0.51, respectively, among them, the land use score is less than 3.85, the 1 service facility score is less than 1.71, the site convenience score is less than 1.01, and the environmental quality score is less than 0.94; indicating that the community has serious problems such as single land use types, pollution exposure, and difficulty in obtaining healthy food. Therefore, community planning and transformation based on land use, service facilities, venue convenience, and environmental quality can effectively improve the physical and mental health of residents. In the specific community transformation plan, artificial intelligence and data-driven methods can be used to optimize the land use plan, service facility configuration, site convenience transformation and environmental quality improvement, so as to formulate the optimal community transformation plan and improve the comfort and happiness of community residents. In the future, on the basis of the existing research, the selection of community types will be further enriched and the research cases will be expanded. And through the in-depth practical study of the case, the constructed evaluation index system is optimized and improved to make it more scientific. At the same time, as urban renewal and design have entered the era of stock planning, based on the more perfect evaluation index system, more specific and detailed system discussion of the built communities with public health problems, in order to provide more detailed services for the construction of a better and healthy living environment in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fujiang Chen
- School of Emergency Management, Xihua University, Chengdu, China
- National Dam Safety Research Center, Wuhan, China
- School of Public Administration, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China
- The Research Center for Social Development and Social Risk Control of the Key Research Base of Philosophy and Social Sciences in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Wuyue She
- School of Emergency Management, Xihua University, Chengdu, China
| | - Feng Zeng
- School of Emergency Management, Xihua University, Chengdu, China
- National Dam Safety Research Center, Wuhan, China
- The Research Center for Social Development and Social Risk Control of the Key Research Base of Philosophy and Social Sciences in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Meiben Gao
- School of Emergency Management, Xihua University, Chengdu, China
- National Dam Safety Research Center, Wuhan, China
- The Research Center for Social Development and Social Risk Control of the Key Research Base of Philosophy and Social Sciences in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Chao Wen
- School of Emergency Management, Xihua University, Chengdu, China
| | - Guoxin Liu
- School of Emergency Management, Xihua University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lixun Wu
- School of Emergency Management, Xihua University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Wu
- School of Emergency Management, Xihua University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- School of Emergency Management, Xihua University, Chengdu, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Jabeen A, Afzal MS, Pathan SA. A Review of the Role of Built Environment and Temperature in the Development of Childhood Obesity. Cureus 2023; 15:e49657. [PMID: 38161805 PMCID: PMC10756253 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.49657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The burden of obesity is rising globally and is studied widely, yet the evidence for the association of environmental factors (both built and natural) with childhood obesity remains inconsistent. A relation with temperature as a proxy for natural environmental factors for obesity has not been reviewed previously. The purpose of this review was to assimilate updated evidence on environmental factors of childhood obesity. Three databases, MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online), Web of Science, and Cochrane, were searched for articles related to the effect of built environment and temperature on childhood obesity in 6-12-year-olds published in the last five years. Twelve studies were identified: four longitudinal and eight cross-sectional. The studies were appraised using the National Institute of Health Quality (NIH) Assessment Tool. A review of included studies showed that built environmental features like higher residential and population density, higher intersection density, more playgrounds, and all park features like the presence or availability of parks, high number of parks, proximity to parks, and an increased park land area, showed a protective association against childhood obesity while land use mix showed a promoting association for the development of childhood obesity. Inconclusive evidence was observed for other built environmental features. The search strategy did not retrieve any literature published in the past five years studying the association between temperature and the development of childhood obesity. Standardization of definitions of exposure and outcome measures is recommended. Further research studying the relationship between environmental temperature and the development of childhood obesity is recommended.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Atika Jabeen
- Public Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of London, London, GBR
- Emergency Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, QAT
| | | | - Sameer A Pathan
- Emergency Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, QAT
- Emergency Medicine, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, GBR
- Emergency Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, AUS
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Meltzer GY, Merdjanoff AA, Xu S, Gershon R, Emrich CT, Abramson DM. Examining the effects of cumulative environmental stressors on Gulf Coast child and adolescent health. POPULATION AND ENVIRONMENT 2023; 45:21. [PMID: 38681821 PMCID: PMC11052576 DOI: 10.1007/s11111-023-00436-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
This study examines how community-level cumulative environmental stress affects child and adolescent emotional distress and chronic health conditions both directly and indirectly through stressors at the household, family, and individual levels. Data comes from the Women and their Children's Health (WaTCH) Study, which sought to understand the health implications of exposure to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DHOS) among a cohort of 596 mothers with children ages 10 to 17 in southeastern Louisiana. Community-level environmental stress was measured using a newly developed geospatial index. Household-level stressors included previous hurricane impacts, impacts of DHOS, degree of financial difficulty, and degree of housing physical decay. Family stressors included maternal depression, self-rated physical health, and degree of parenting stress. Child stress was based on perceived stress; child mental health was based on serious emotional disturbance; and child physical health was based on diagnosis of chronic illness. Structural equation modeling used weighted least squares means and variance and theta parameterization. Results showed a significant negative direct path between community-level cumulative environmental stress and child/adolescent serious emotional disturbance and chronic illness. However, the indirect relationship through household, family, and individual-level stressors was significant and positive for both child/adolescent serious emotional disturbance and chronic illness. These findings point to the centrality of the household and family in determining child and adolescent physical and mental health outcomes in communities exposed to frequent disasters and ongoing environmental stressors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Y. Meltzer
- Departments of Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexis A. Merdjanoff
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, New York University School of Global Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shu Xu
- Department of Biostatistics, New York University School of Global Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robyn Gershon
- Department of Epidemiology, New York University School of Global Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christopher T. Emrich
- School of Public Administration & National Center for Integrated Coastal Research, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - David M. Abramson
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, New York University School of Global Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Coppell KJ, Keall M, Mandic S. Dietary Pattern Indicators among Healthy and Unhealthy Weight Adolescents Residing in Different Contexts across the Otago Region, New Zealand. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1445. [PMID: 37761405 PMCID: PMC10528431 DOI: 10.3390/children10091445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Reported obesity rates for adolescents in different urban and rural areas are inconsistent. We examined indicators of healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns among 1863 adolescents aged 13-18 years with a healthy or excess body weight attending 23 secondary schools in four different settlement types across the Otago region, New Zealand. An online survey included demographics and dietary behaviours. Height and weight were measured, and body mass index was calculated. New Zealand defined urban and rural settlement types were used. Home addresses determined a small area-level index of deprivation. Data were analysed using Chi-square tests and ANOVA. A logistic model was fitted to estimate adjusted odds ratios of excess weight. The proportion of adolescents with a healthy weight differed (p < 0.001) between the most (64.9%) and least (76.4%) deprived neighbourhood areas. There was only indicative evidence of differences between settlement types (p = 0.087). Sugar-sweetened beverage and fast-food consumption was more frequent in the most deprived areas (p < 0.001), and in urban versus rural settlements (p < 0.001). The most important associations with excess weight were area-level deprivation and ethnicity, but not settlement type. Prioritising socioeconomic factors irrespective of settlement type is necessary when developing interventions to improve dietary patterns and body weight status among adolescents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten J. Coppell
- Department of Medicine, University of Otago Wellington, Wellington South 6242, New Zealand
- Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, Nelson 7010, New Zealand
| | - Michael Keall
- Department of Public Health, University of Otago Wellington, Wellington South 6242, New Zealand;
| | - Sandra Mandic
- School of Sport and Recreation, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 0627, New Zealand
- Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
- AGILE Research Ltd., Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Cheema S, Abraham A, El-Nahas KG, Abou-Amona R, Al-Hamaq AO, Maisonneuve P, Chaabna K, Lowenfels AB, Mamtani R. Assessment of Overweight, Obesity, Central Obesity, and Type 2 Diabetes among Adolescents in Qatar: A Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14601. [PMID: 36361482 PMCID: PMC9653877 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Qatar has a high obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) burden. This study aimed to (1) determine the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and T2DM in 13-17-year-old adolescents and (2) evaluate associations with adolescents' lifestyle and breastfeeding history, parental weight, and familial T2DM history. A cross-sectional study (double-stage cluster sampling) was conducted in 2018-2020 using a self-administered parental and adolescent questionnaire. In the results, 23.4% of the adolescents (107/459) were overweight; 19.9% (91/459) were obese; and 37.6% (171/459) had evidence of central obesity. Random blood sugar (RBS) was suggestive of prediabetes (≥140 mg/dL) for 23 (5.0%) adolescents and T2DM (≥200 mg/dL) for none. In multivariable analysis, obesity was significantly associated with no breastfeeding (OR = 3.17, 95% CI: 1.09-9.26) compared to breastfed adolescents for ≥6 months, with first-degree family history of T2DM (OR = 2.27; 95% CI: 1.22-4.27), with maternal obesity (OR = 2.40; 95% CI: 1.01-5.70), and with acanthosis nigricans in adolescents (OR = 19.8; 95% CI: 8.38-46.9). Central obesity was significantly associated with maternal obesity (OR = 2.21; 95% CI: 1.14-4.27) and with acanthosis nigricans (OR = 3.67; 95% CI: 1.88-7.18). Acanthosis nigricans (OR = 4.06; 95% CI: 1.41-11.7) was the only factor associated with elevated RBS. Addressing future disease burden among adults in Qatar will require extensive health and well-being programs, focused on healthy lifestyles and behaviors such as nutritious diets, physical activity, stress management, and self-care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sohaila Cheema
- Institute for Population Health, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Education City, Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 24144, Qatar
| | - Amit Abraham
- Institute for Population Health, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Education City, Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 24144, Qatar
| | | | | | | | - Patrick Maisonneuve
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Karima Chaabna
- Institute for Population Health, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Education City, Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 24144, Qatar
| | - Albert B. Lowenfels
- Department of Surgery and Department of Family Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, NY 10595, USA
| | - Ravinder Mamtani
- Institute for Population Health, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Education City, Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 24144, Qatar
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bird M, Datta GD, Chinerman D, Kakinami L, Mathieu ME, Henderson M, Barnett TA. Associations of neighborhood walkability with moderate to vigorous physical activity: an application of compositional data analysis comparing compositional and non-compositional approaches. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2022; 19:55. [PMID: 35585542 PMCID: PMC9118591 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-022-01256-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We compared the relation between neighborhood features and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) using linear regression analysis and the more novel compositional data analysis (CoDA). Compositional data analysis allows us to take the time children allocate to different movement behaviours during a 24-hour time period into account. METHODOLOGY Data from youth participants (n = 409) in the QUALITY (QUebec Adipose and Lifestyle InvesTigation in Youth) cohort were included. Time spent in MVPA, light physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep ("24-hour movement behaviours") was measured using accelerometers. Neighborhood data were collected using a geographic information system and through direct observation. In CoDA models, we used orthogonal logratio coordinates, which allows for the association of neighbourhood walkability with MVPA to be estimated with respect to the average composition of all other behaviours within a 24-hour time frame. In baseline linear regression models, MVPA was regressed cross-sectionally on neighborhood walkability. All models were stratified by sex, and controlled for BMI z-scores, pubertal development, seasonal variation, parental education, and neighbourhood safety. RESULTS Based on CoDA, girls who lived in more walkable neighborhoods had 10% higher daily MVPA (95% CI: 2%, 19%), taking into account all other movement behaviours. Based on linear regression, girls who resided in more walkable neighborhoods engaged in 4.2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2, 6.6) more minutes of MVPA per day on average than girls residing in less walkable neighborhoods. CONCLUSIONS Unlike with traditional linear models, all movement behaviours were included in a single model using CoDA, allowing for a more complete picture of the strength and direction of the association between neighbourhood Walkability and MVPA. Application of CoDA to investigate determinants of physical activity provides additional insight into potential mechanisms and the ways in which people allocate their time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Bird
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Canada
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, École de santé publique de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Office of International Affairs for the Health Portfolio, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Geetanjali D Datta
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, École de santé publique de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Le Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Canada
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Deanna Chinerman
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 5858 Côte-des-Neiges Rd, Montreal, QC, H3S 1Z1, Canada
| | - Lisa Kakinami
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Concordia University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Marie-Eve Mathieu
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Canada
- School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences, University of Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Mélanie Henderson
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Canada
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, École de santé publique de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Tracie A Barnett
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Canada.
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 5858 Côte-des-Neiges Rd, Montreal, QC, H3S 1Z1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Roberge JB, Contreras G, Kakinami L, Van Hulst A, Henderson M, Barnett TA. Validation of desk-based audits using Google Street View® to monitor the obesogenic potential of neighbourhoods in a pediatric sample: a pilot study in the QUALITY cohort. Int J Health Geogr 2022; 21:2. [PMID: 35346220 PMCID: PMC8961916 DOI: 10.1186/s12942-022-00301-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The suitability of geospatial services for auditing neighbourhood features relevant to pediatric obesity remains largely unexplored. Our objectives were to (i) establish the measurement properties of a desk-based audit instrument that uses Google Street View ® to assess street- and neighbourhood-level features relevant to pediatric obesity (QUALITY-NHOOD tool, the test method) and (ii) comment on its capacity to detect changes in the built environment over an 8-year period. In order to do so, we compared this tool with an on-site auditing instrument (the reference method). Methods On-site audits of 55 street- and neighbourhood-level features were completed in 2008 in 512 neighbourhoods from the QUALITY cohort study. In 2015, both repeat on-site and desk-based audits were completed in a random sample of 30 of these neighbourhoods. Results Agreement between both methods was excellent for almost all street segment items (range 91.9–99.7%), except for road type (81.0%), ads/commercial billboards (81.7%), road-sidewalk buffer zone (76.1%), and road-bicycle path buffer zone (53.3%). It was fair to poor for perceived quality, safety and aesthetics items (range 59.9–87.6%), as well as for general impression items (range 40.0–86.7%). The desk-based method over-detected commercial billboards and road-sidewalk buffer zone, and generally rated neighbourhoods as less safe, requiring more effort to get around, and having less aesthetic appeal. Change detected over the 8-year period was generally similar for both methods, except that the desk-based method appeared to amplify the increase in the number of segments with signs of social disorder. Conclusions The QUALITY-NHOOD tool is deemed adequate for evaluating and monitoring changes in pedestrian- and traffic-related features applicable to pediatric populations. Applications for monitoring the obesogenic nature of neighbourhoods appear warranted. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12942-022-00301-8.
Collapse
|