Browsing by Author "Malambo, Pasmore"

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    Association between perceived built environmental attributes and physical activity among adults in South Africa
    (BioMed Central, 2017-02-20) Malambo, Pasmore; Kengne, Andre P; Lambert, Estelle V; De Villers, Anniza; Puoane, Thandi
    Background: To investigate the association between perceived environmental attributes and leisure-time and transport-related physical activity. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey involving 671 South Africans aged ≥35 years from urban and rural settings. International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Neighbourhood Walkability Scale were used to collect data. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to investigate the associations. Results: Significant urban vs. rural differences were apparent in the distribution of most attributes of neighborhood environment. After adjusting for gender, age, setting and relevant interaction terms, proximity to local stores was significantly associated with leisure-time physical activity (OR: 4.26; 95% CI, 1.00–18.08); while proximity to transit stops (2.44; 1.48–4.02), pleasant scenery (1.93; 1.07–3.46), sidewalks (2.36; 1.25–4.44), shade from trees (2.14; 1.19–3. 85), traffic (2.17; 91.21–3.91) and well-lit streets (2.01; 1.04–3.89) were significantly associated with walking for leisure. Four-way intersections (4.54; 1.54–13.43), pleasant scenery (3.84; 1.35–10.99), traffic (0.28; 0.09–0.89), sidewalks (3.75; 1.06-13.27) and crosswalks were associated with transport related physical activity. Proximity to transit stops (2.12; 1.17–3.84) and well maintained sidewalks (2.69; 2.20–10.02) were significantly associated with total physical activity. Significant interactions by setting were apparent in some of the associations. Conclusion: Some, but not all attributes of a neighborhood environment were significantly associated in expected directions with the three physical activity domains in this mixed urban and rural population. This study highlights the need for policy strategies aimed at improving or maintaining these perceived environmental attributes to promote physical activity.
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    The relationship between objectively-measured attributes of the built environment and selected cardiovascular risk factors in a South African urban setting
    (BioMed Central, 2018-07-09) Malambo, Pasmore; De Villiers, Anniza; Lambert, Estelle V; Puoane, Thandi; Kengne, Andre P
    Abstract Background Evidence concerning the relationship between objectively-measured attributes of the built environment with cardio-metabolic risk in populations from lower- and middle-income countries is lacking. In this paper, we describe the association between the objectively-measured built environment with body mass index, blood pressure and physical activity in adult South Africans. Methods This cross-sectional study included 341 adults aged ≥35 years drawn from the Cape Town arm of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) cohort study. All Cape Town PURE participants were invited to take part in the study. Actigraph GT3X accelerometer and Geographic Information Systems were used to measure physical activity and built environment attributes (community center, shopping center and taxi rank). Results In age and sex adjusted models (reference 500 m), access to community centers (1000 m) was positively related to body mass index [beta 4.70 (95%CI: 2.06 to 7.34)] and diastolic blood pressure [4.97 (0.00 to 9.95)]. Distance from a community center (1600 m) was positively related to diastolic blood pressure [6.58 (1.57 to 11.58)] and inversely with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [− 69.30 (− 134.92 to − 3.70)]. Distance to a shopping center (1600 m) was positively related to body mass index [4.78 (1.11 to 8.45)] and shopping center (1000 m) was positively related to systolic blood pressure respectively [76.99 (0.03 to 83.95)]. Conclusion Distance to community and shopping centers were significantly associated with BMI, systolic, diastolic blood pressure and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Future research should include multiple aspects of built environment variables in order to provide for a broader understanding of their effect on cardiovascular risk profile of African populations.