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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Jill Litt, PhD¹, Wendy Peters Moschetti, MA¹, Joy Amulya, PhD¹, Lisa Bardwell, PhD², Michael Buchenau, MLA³, Julie Marshall, PhD¹, and Fahriye Sancar, PhD⁴. (1) Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 4200 E. Ninth Avenue, C-245, Denver, CO 80262, 303-315-7595, jill.litt@uchsc.edu, (2) Front Range Earthforce, 2120 W. 33rd Avenue, Denver, CO 80211, (3) Denver Urban Gardens, 3377 Blake Street, Suite 113, Denver, CO 80205, (4) Urban and Regional Planning, College of Architecture and Planning, 14th Street, Denver, CO 80217

Background: ‘A Survey of Neighborhood Environments and Health' is designed to examine environmental correlates of physical activity and nutrition and the direct and indirect pathways that may influence these outcomes, including social networks, territoriality, physical incivilities, access to neighborhood resources including fresh fruits and vegetables and public spaces such as parks and recreational areas. Additionally, the survey aims to examine an established community recreational activity, community gardening, for its potential to promote physical activity, and, more broadly, reduce risks of developing obesity and chronic diseases. Methods: We administered a face-to-face neighborhood survey instrument to adults living near community gardens across 5 of Denver's neighborhoods (n=500). Questions were adapted from valid and reliable questionnaire modules for efficiency in its development and to facilitate national and regional comparisons when available. Results: We will present baseline data including information on the built environment and related behaviors (e.g., fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity), levels of community connections and interpersonal trust, and attitudes and preferences related to health issues that may be mediated by the built environment. Conclusions: Community gardens offer an example of an environmental change at the neighborhood level that could reduce health disparities and promote neighborhoods and health. The neighborhood environment and health survey will shed light on leisure-time activity patterns, social networks, eating habits, and general health status of gardeners and non-gardeners in urban Denver neighborhoods and will be used to inform future neighborhood-level interventions.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key aspects of the built environment that relate to physical activity, nutrition, and neighborhood social ties.
• Create a learning framework for communities to examine the connection between an aspect of the built environment and health outcomes.

Keywords: Urban Health, Environment

Related Web page: www.gghcdenver.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation