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The relationship between job components, neighbourhood walkability and African academics' physical activity: a post-COVID-19 context.

ABSTRACT: Research to date suggests that physical activity (PA) among academics is insufficient globally. Academics in many African countries were recently required to resume work while observing social distancing protocols. Physical inactivity (PI) was, therefore, expected to increase in such academics. Interestingly, walkable neighbourhoods are resources that could discourage excessive sitting and PI in this situation. This study, therefore, assessed the moderating role of neighbourhood walkability in the relationship between core job components (i.e. on-site teaching, online teaching, research and student assessment) and PA among academics. The study adopted a cross-sectional design that utilized an online survey hosted by Google Forms to gather data. Participants were volunteer full-time academics in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. A total of 1064 surveys were analysed, with a sensitivity analysis utilized to select covariates for the ultimate hierarchical linear regression model. After controlling for the ultimate covariates (e.g. gender, education and income), PA was found to be positively associated with the job component 'research work' but negatively associated with student assessment. Neighbourhood walkability increased the positive relationship of research work with PA and reduced the negative relationship of student assessment with PA. The non-significant negative relationship between 'teaching online' and PA was made positively significant by neighbourhood walkability. We conclude that research as a job component is positively associated with PA, but online teaching is negatively associated with PA among African academics in a post-COVID-19 context.

SUBMITTER: Asiamah N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8411380 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:ObjectivesStudies have investigated the influence of neighbourhood walkability on residents' walking behaviour, aiming to increase physical activity and reduce dependence on automobiles. Previous research, however, has not considered how the amount of time spent in the residential neighbourhood may modify this relationship. Our objective was to determine how time spent in the residential neighbourhood affects the relationship between neighbourhood walkability and walking for transport.DesignUsing a cross-sectional sample of 2411 adults, we analysed the association between walkability (an index combining land-use mix, dwelling density and street connectivity) and transport-related walking (controlling for the effects of gender, age, income, self-rated health and regular access to private transport) testing for interactions by time spent in the neighbourhood.Primary outcome measureMinutes spent walking for transport per week.SettingToronto, Canada.ParticipantsParticipants were aged 25 to 65. The survey had a 72% response rate.ResultsAfter adjusting for potential confounders, the walkability index was weakly associated with walking (1 SD of walkability score is associated with 0.25 more minutes walking/week, p<0.01). Land-use mix was more strongly associated with walking than the walkability index. Time spent at the residential neighbourhood modified the relationship between land-use mix and transport-related walking in a dose-effect manner (p<0.01), those spending 5?hours on average at their residential neighbourhood have 0.2?min/day more walking for each additional land-use mix score and those spending 12?hours have 0.5?min/day more walking for each additional land-use mix score.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that walkability is associated with increased walking time, but it is modified by time spent in the neighbourhood. Our study underscores the importance of testing 'time spent in the neighbourhood' as a modifier of environmental exposures in studies of environmental correlates of walking.

Project description:ObjectiveTo determine whether neighbourhood walkability is associated with clinical measures of obesity, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia in an urban adult population.DesignObservational cross-sectional study.SettingUrban primary care patients.Participants78?023 Toronto residents, aged 18?years and over, who were formally rostered or had at least 2 visits between 2012 and 2014 with a primary care physician participating in the University of Toronto Practice Based Research Network (UTOPIAN), within the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network (CPCSSN).Main outcome measuresDifferences in average body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, haemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride between residents in the highest versus the lowest quartile of neighbourhood walkability, as estimated using multivariable linear regression models and stratified by age. Outcomes were objectively measured and were retrieved from primary care electronic medical records. Models adjusted for age, sex, smoking, medications, medical comorbidities and indices of neighbourhood safety and marginalisation.ResultsCompared with those in the lowest walkability quartile, individuals in the highest quartile had lower mean BMI (-2.64?kg/m2, 95% CI -2.98 to -2.30; p<0.001), systolic blood pressure (-1.35?mm?Hg, 95% CI -2.01 to -0.70; p<0.001), diastolic blood pressure (-0.60?mm?Hg, 95% CI 1.06 to -0.14; p=0.010) and HbA1c (-0.063%, 95% CI -0.11 to -0.021; p=0.003) and higher mean HDL (0.052?mmol/L, 95% CI 0.029 to 0.075; p<0.001). In age-stratified analyses, differences in the mean BMI were consistently observed for adults aged 18 to under 40 (-4.44?kg/m2, 95% CI -5.09 to -3.79; p<0.001), adults aged 40-65 (-2.74?kg/m2, 95% CI -3.24 to -2.23; p<0.001) and adults aged over 65 (-0.87?kg/m2, 95% CI -1.48 to -0.26; p=0.005).ConclusionsThere was a clinically meaningful association between living in the most walkable neighbourhoods and having lower BMI in adults of all ages.

Project description:Multimorbidity has become highly prevalent around the globe and been associated with adverse health outcomes and cost of care. The built environment has become an important dimension in response to obesity and associated chronic diseases by addressing population sedentariness and low physical activity.ObjectiveThe aim of the following study was to examine whether there was an increased risk for multimorbidity for those living in less walkable neighbourhoods. It was hypothesised that participants residing in less walkable neighbourhoods would have a higher risk for multimorbidity.SettingCity of Toronto and 14 neighbouring regions/municipalities within Ontario, Canada.ParticipantsStudy participants who had completed the Canadian Community Health Survey between the year 2000 and 2012, between 20 and 64 and 65 and 95 years of age, residing within a neighbourhood captured in the Walkability Index, and who were not multimorbid at the time of interview, were selected.InterventionThe Walkability Index was the key exposure in the study, which is divided into quintiles (1-least, 5-most walkable neighbourhoods). Participants were retrospectively allocated to one of five quintiles based on their area of residency (at the time of interview) and followed for a maximum of 16 years.Primary outcome measureBecoming multimorbid with two chronic conditions.Secondary outcome measureBecoming multimorbid with three chronic conditions.ResultsRisk for multimorbidity (two chronic conditions) was highest in least compared with most walkable neighbourhoods with an HR of 1.14 (95% CI: 1.02 to 1.28, p=0.0230). While results showed an overall gradient response between decreased walkability and increased risk for multimorbidity, they were not statistically significant across all quintiles or in the older-adult cohort (65-95 years of age).ConclusionStudy results seem to suggest that low neighbourhood walkability may be a risk factor for multimorbidity over time. More studies are needed to examine whether neighbourhood walkability is a potential solution for multimorbidity prevention at the population level.

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The relationship between job components, neighbourhood walkability and African academics' physical activity: a post-COVID-19 context.

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