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International Journal for Equity in Health
Published in: International Journal for Equity in Health 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research

Sociodemographic inequities and active transportation in adults from Latin America: an eight-country observational study

Authors: Gerson Ferrari, Juan Guzmán-Habinger, Javiera L. Chávez, André O. Werneck, Danilo R. Silva, Irina Kovalskys, Georgina Gómez, Attilio Rigotti, Lilia Yadira Cortés, Martha Cecilia Yépez García, Rossina G. Pareja, Marianella Herrera-Cuenca, Clemens Drenowatz, Carlos Cristi-Montero, Adilson Marques, Miguel Peralta, Ana Carolina B. Leme, Mauro Fisberg

Published in: International Journal for Equity in Health | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

Active transportation is a crucial sort of physical activity for developing sustainable environments and provides essential health benefits. This is particularly important in Latin American countries because they present the highest burden of non-communicable diseases relative to other worldwide regions. This study aimed to examine the patterns of active transportation and its association with sociodemographic inequities in Latin American countries.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in eight countries. Participants (n = 8547, 18–65 years) self-reported their active transportation (walking, cycling, and total) using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Sex, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic level, education level, public and private transport use, and transport mode were used as sociodemographic inequities.

Results

Participants spent a total of 19.9, 3.1, and 23.3 min/day with walking, cycling, and total active transportation, respectively. Mixed and other ethnicity (Asian, Indigenous, Gypsy, and other), high socioeconomic level as well as middle and high education level presented higher walking than Caucasian, low socioeconomic and education level. Private transport mode and use of ≥ 6 days/week of private transport showed lower walking than public transport mode and ≤ 2 days/week of private transport. Use of ≥ 3 days/week of public transport use presented higher walking than ≤ 2 days/week of public transport. Men had higher cycling for active transportation than women. Use of ≥ 3 days/week of public transport use presented higher cycling than ≤ 2 days/week of public transport. ≥6 days/week showed lower cycling than ≤ 2 days/week of private transport use. Men (b: 5.57: 95 %CI: 3.89;7.26), black (3.77: 0.23;7.31), mixed (3.20: 1.39;5.00) and other ethnicity (7.30: 2.55;12.04), had higher total active transportation than women and Caucasian. Private transport mode (-7.03: -11.65;-2.41) and ≥ 6 days/week of private transport use (-4.80: -6.91;-0.31) showed lower total active transportation than public transport mode and ≤ 2 days/week of private transport use. Use of 3–5 (5.10: 1.35;8.85) and ≥ 6 days/week (8.90: 3.07;14.73) of public transport use presented higher total active transportation than ≤ 2 days/week of public transport use. Differences among countries were observed.

Conclusions

Sociodemographic inequities are associated differently with active transportation across Latin American countries. Interventions and policies that target the promotion of active policies transportation essential to consider sociodemographic inequities.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.Gov NCT02226627. Retrospectively registered on August 27, 2014.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Sociodemographic inequities and active transportation in adults from Latin America: an eight-country observational study
Authors
Gerson Ferrari
Juan Guzmán-Habinger
Javiera L. Chávez
André O. Werneck
Danilo R. Silva
Irina Kovalskys
Georgina Gómez
Attilio Rigotti
Lilia Yadira Cortés
Martha Cecilia Yépez García
Rossina G. Pareja
Marianella Herrera-Cuenca
Clemens Drenowatz
Carlos Cristi-Montero
Adilson Marques
Miguel Peralta
Ana Carolina B. Leme
Mauro Fisberg
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
International Journal for Equity in Health / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1475-9276
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-021-01524-0

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