Gender Differences in the Association Between Neighbourhood walkability and health-status, A pilot study in Canberra/Australia

Self-reported and objectively-determined neighborhood built characteristics are associated with walking. This study investigated whether associations between the neighborhood built environment features and neighborhood walkability Index varied by sociodemographic and health-related characteristics. A random sample number of 385 adults (male=162, female=222) completed postal questionnaire capturing neighborhood walkability, socio-demographic characteristics, walking attitudes, and health-related characteristics (BMI). The survey designed was based on Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) and classified into 9 categories (Residential typology, Non-residential land-use, Streets, Walking and Cycling facilities, Neighborhood surroundings/aesthetics, Traffic safety, Crime safety, Neighborhood satisfaction). Neighborhood walkability index was compared across low, medium, and high walkable neighborhoods for each sociodemographic (sex, age, education, reason of walking, and dog ownership) and health-status (weight status). Walk-score index used in order to selection of three Neighborhoods of Canberra/Australia. The survey conducted a high reliability inter item correlation score of 0.8 ± .05 using the alpha Cronbach reliability test. The result shows that females residing in high walkable neighborhoods undertook more (p<0.05) neighborhood walkability than females’ counterparts in medium and low walkable neighborhoods. Improving neighborhood walkability features such as physical environment quality, traffic and crime safety are potentially effective walking level and population health intervention for increasing neighborhood-based physical activity.