232090 Park usage, physical activity, and social economic status: A study on the behaviors of females in Honolulu parks

Monday, November 8, 2010

Elise Davis, BS , Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
Jane Chung-Do, MPH , Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Hawai'i Manoa, Honolulu, HI
Jay Maddock, PhD , Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Hawai'i Manoa, Honolulu, HI
Physical inactivity contributes to many types of diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Parks, which are often free to use and closely located to residences, should be promoted for physical activity (PA). This study observed park users and coded their PA level, using System of Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC), in six Honolulu public parks. Parks were categorized into lower, middle, or upper income categories based upon median income recorded for each respective surrounding census tract. Females were found to underutilize parks, especially in low-income neighborhoods. A total of 6,477 parks users were observed with 2,338 (36.1%) females and 4,139 (63.9%) males. Of females, 12.7% were observed in parks of low-income neighborhoods, 38.5% in parks of middle-income neighborhoods, and 48.8% in parks of high-income neighborhoods. Females in high-income neighborhoods are almost four times more likely to use parks than females in low-income neighborhoods. Furthermore, park users were coded into PA levels of sedentary, walking, or vigorous. Overall for females, 64.1% of PA was coded as sedentary, followed by 23.8% walking, and 12.1% vigorous. Within the parks located in low-income neighborhoods, females were most likely to be coded as vigorous (16.2%) compared to other parks and were least likely to be coded as sedentary (49.5%) compared to other parks. This may be the result of females not wanting to linger in parks that are perceived as less pleasant or safe; such perceptions might also explain underutilization of parks in low-income communities and are a good target for interventions.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Compare physical activity levels of men and women in Honolulu parks. Identify groups found to underutilize public parks in Honolulu.

Keywords: Health Disparities, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Delta Omega student nominee
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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