241292 Built environment and active commuting to school in a rural community

Monday, October 31, 2011: 9:30 AM

Wallace Goldman, MS , Center for Health Behavior Research, The University of Mississippi, University, MS
Abigail Gamble, PhD, CHES , The Mississippi Delta Health Collaborative, Mississippi State Department of Health, Greenwood, MS
Melinda Valliant, PhD, RD , Nutrition and Hospitality Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS
Dwight Waddell, PhD , Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS
M. Allison Ford-Wade, PhD , Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS
Jeffrey S. Hallam, PhD, CHES , Center for Health Behavior Research, The University of Mississippi, University, MS
Background: Despite the health benefits of physical activity, a majority of children do not meet the recommendations for physical activity. Rural areas, especially in southern states, have the highest prevalence of physical inactivity. Few students walk to and from school in rural areas. Parental perceptions of distance and safety strongly influence active commuting to school. The purpose of this study was to compare objective and perceived environmental factors to active commuting to school in a rural community in the South. Methods: Student proximity to school was measured using ArcGIS 9.3 (n=2500). Walkability was measured using two validated environmental audit instruments, the Rural Active Living Assessment (RALA) and the Irvine-Minnesota Inventory. Parental perception of walkability was measured between Fall 2007 and Fall 2009 using the National Safe Routes to School Parent Survey. Four schools were included in the study. Results: Elementary School-A (ESA) had the highest walkability score, as well as the highest percentage of students living within a one-mile radius of the school, while Elementary School-B (ESB) showed the lowest scores on both measures. Significantly more students walk to school at ESA than ESB. A significant difference in walkability was found between the schools. Parents report the top three perceived barriers and facilitators to actively commuting to school as distance, traffic speed along route, and traffic volume along route. Discussion: Implementing traffic calming measures and increasing awareness of current traffic calming measures may reduce the traffic danger perceived by parents at all schools. These results may inform school siting policies.

Learning Areas:
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe three barriers and three facilitators to active commuting to school. Explain the difference in walkability between school locations. Identify traffic calming measures for schools sited in rural areas.

Keywords: Physical Activity, School-Based Programs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I lead the research team for this project.
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.

See more of: Promoting Active Living Through the Built Environment: Planning, Policy, and Evaluation
See more of: Physical Activity