Journal of epidemiology and community health
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Mar 2019
Renovations of neighbourhood parks: long-term outcomes on physical activity.
Neighbourhood parks are places designed to support physical activity, but are often underutilised. Park renovations are major improvements to the quality of these spaces and usually attract more park users. This study assessed changes in the use of six San Francisco neighbourhood parks and park-based physical activity levels over a 6-year period, during which five of the six parks were renovated. ⋯ Park renovations attracted more users and increased park-based MVPA than non-renovated parks and sustained increases over time for adults and children, but not teens or seniors. Park renovations that consider and provide facilities that support varied levels of physical activity and cater to all age groups may foster increased park-based physical activity that can be sustained.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Aug 2018
Socioeconomic inequalities in child vaccination in low/middle-income countries: what accounts for the differences?
Socioeconomic inequalities in child vaccination continue to be a global public health concern. This study aimed to measure and identify factors associated with socioeconomic inequalities in full immunisation coverage against the four core vaccine-preventable diseases (ie, bacille Calmette-Guérin, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (three doses), polio (three doses) and measles vaccines) in 46 low/middle-income countries. ⋯ Pro-rich distribution of child vaccination in most low/middle-income countries remains an important public health policy concern. Policies aimed to improve antenatal care visits among mothers in lower socioeconomic groups may mitigate socioeconomic inequalities in vaccination coverage in low/middle-income countries.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Apr 2018
Do active modes of transport cause lower body mass index? Findings from the HABITAT longitudinal study.
Few studies have examined the causal relationship between transport mode and body mass index (BMI). ⋯ The findings suggest a causal association between transport mode and BMI and support calls from health authorities to promote walking and cycling for transport as a way of incorporating physical activity into everyday life to reduce the risk of chronic disease.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Mar 2018
Associations of neighbourhood crime with adverse pregnancy outcomes among women in Chicago: analysis of electronic health records from 2009 to 2013.
Adverse pregnancy outcomes are associated with higher cardiovascular disease risk among mothers and future health problems of offspring. Neighbourhood crime may contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes by increasing chronic stress, yet the association has been relatively understudied. ⋯ Higher neighbourhood crime rates were associated with small but significant increases in the odds of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Interventions that cultivate safer neighbourhoods may be a promising approach for improving pregnancy outcomes.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Jan 2018
Level of moderate-intensity leisure-time physical activity and reduced mortality in middle-aged and elderly Chinese.
Few studies have prospectively evaluated the association of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) with mortality in Asians, who are more susceptible to insulin resistance than their Caucasian counterparts. ⋯ Regular participation in moderate-intensity LTPA was associated with reduced mortality, particularly CVD mortality, even when the LTPA was below the minimum level recommended by current guidelines. Increasing the amount of moderate-intensity LTPA was associated with further risk reduction up to a potential threshold of 3-5 times the recommended minimum.