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BIBTEX RIS

Neighborhood Walkability Scale (news - Brazilian Version)

2007; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 39; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1249/01.mss.0000273706.20283.e3

1530-0315

Leticia M. Malavasi, Maria de Fátima Silva Duarte, Jorge Both,

Urban Transport and Accessibility

Among the factors that Influence physical inactivity, the perceived environment is one variable that can determine a healthier lifestyle. In Brazil, scales of environmental barriers for physical activity in communities are limited. This subject can help professionals in planning public policy to improve the adherence of community residents to practice physical activities. PURPOSE: to analyze the construct validity of the NEWS questionnaire translated into Brazilian Portuguese. METHODS: the NEWS scale scores the residents' perception of dimensions regarding resident characteristics, stores and trade proximity, perception of access to these marketplaces, street characteristics, walk and bicycle facilities, and safety related to traffic and crime. The methodological procedures were structured in two phases: in the first phase, a panel of 10 urban planning specialists rated Florianopolis/SC/Brazil neighborhoods for better or worse walkability. In this stage, 10 neighborhoods were listed (Centro, Estreito, Coqueiros, Capoeiras, Trindade, João Paulo, Saco Grande, Monte Verde, Bom Abrigo, e Itacorubi), and five were named with more and five with less walkability. In the second stage, the NEWS questionnaire (Brazilian version) was applied in a random sample of 200 residents from the two neighborhoods with the highest (Centro and Estreito) and two with the lowest (João Paulo and Saco Grande) walkability. The statistical analysis was accomplished through the parametric (score average) and non-parametric approach to identify the neighborhoods' classification in relation to each dimension, and by the Kruskall-Wallis test to compare which dimensions had a greater Influence on the neighborhoods investigated. RESULTS: Centro and Estreito were considered to be high-walkability neighborhoods by the residents, coinciding with the specialists' indication. Among the eight dimensions of NEWS, only residential density and crime safety did not Influenced upon neighborhoods' classification. CONCLUSION: The construct validity was supported by the comparison from the specialists and residents' perception of the four neighborhoods investigated In both cases, Centro and Estreito were considered with high and João Paulo and Saco Grande with low walkability.