Environmental Quality Perceptions and Health

A Cross-Sectional Study of Citizens of Kaunas, Lithuania

Bibliographic Data

ID15469249
AuthorsRegina Grazuleviciene (0000-0002-0210-8053, Vytautas Magnus University, corresponding author), Sandra Andrušaitytė (0000-0002-4309-0208, Vytautas Magnus University), Audrius Dėdelė (0000-0001-7041-9980, Vytautas Magnus University), Tomas Gražulevičius (0009-0005-4418-3915, Vytautas Magnus University), Leonas Valius (0000-0001-9896-5086, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences), Violeta Kapustinskienė (Lithuanian University of Health Sciences), Inga Bendokienė (Vilnius City Municipality Administration)
Year2020
Volume17
Issue12
Pages4420-4420
Publication date2020-06-19
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph17124420
PMID32575545
OpenAlexW3035916332
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited28

The perception of urban environmental quality is an important contributor when identifying local problems in sustainable development and environmental planning policy. This study examined the associations between environmental and social residential characteristics, physical activity, obesity, and hypertension in Kaunas city, Lithuania. This cross-sectional study analyzed 580 citizens' demographic-, socioeconomic-, health-, and lifestyle-related factors, environmental health concerns, and environmental quality perceptions. Using Geographic Information Systems and the multivariate logistic regression, we found that the less physically active group more often presented lower than mean ratings of the quality of pathways and cycling routes (32.9% and 45.6%, p = 0.042) and only irregularly visited the natural environment. Obese participants presented poorer ratings of air pollution, the quality of pathways and cycling routes, their possibility to reach green spaces by walking, and the available relaxing areas. The environmental issues associated with hypertension were poor possibilities to reach green spaces by walking (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.14-3.32) and the availability of relaxation areas (OR 2.30, 95% 1.34-3.95). The quality of the neighborhood and individual-level characteristics were the factors that influenced a higher prevalence of health problems at the district level. Our findings suggest that a public health policy to improve the physical and social environment of the neighborhood would have a potential to increase citizens' physical activity and health

Built environment · Cross-sectional study · Environmental health · Environmental quality · Geography · Logistic regression · Political science · Population · Public health · Quality (philosophy · Quality of life (healthcare · Social determinants of health · Socioeconomic status · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Sustainability · Medicine · Noise Effects and Management · Psychology · Urban Green Space and Health · Urban Transport and Accessibility

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