Exploring Neighborhood Environments and Active Commuting in Chennai, India

Bibliographic Data

ID15470488
AuthorsDeepti Adlakha (0000-0002-1720-6780, Queen's University Belfast, corresponding author), J Aaron Hipp (0000-0002-2394-7112, North Carolina State University), James F Sallis (0000-0003-2555-9452, University of California San Diego), Ross C Brownson (0000-0003-4260-2205, Washington University in St. Louis)
Year2018
Volume15
Issue9
Pages1840-1840
Publication date2018-08-26
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/ijerph15091840
PMID30149686
OpenAlexW2888766810
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited27

Few studies assess built environment correlates of active commuting in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs), but the different context could yield distinct findings. Policies and investments to promote active commuting remain under-developed in LMICs like India, which grapples with traffic congestion, lack of activity-supportive infrastructure, poor enforcement of traffic rules and regulations, air pollution, and overcrowding. This cross-sectional study investigated associations between home neighborhood environment characteristics and active commuting in Chennai, India. Adults (N = 370, 47.2% female, mean age =37.9 years) were recruited from 155 wards in the metropolitan area of Chennai in southern India between January and June 2015. Participants self-reported their usual mode of commute to work, with responses recoded into three categories: (1) multi-modal or active commuting (walking and bicycling; n = 56); (2) public transit (n = 52); and (3) private transport (n = 111). Environmental attributes around participants' homes were assessed using the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for India (NEWS-India). Associations between environmental characteristics and likelihood of active commuting and public transit use were modeled using logistic regression with private transport (driving alone or carpool) as the reference category, adjusting for age, gender, and household car ownership. Consistent with other international studies, participants living in neighborhoods with a mix of land uses and a transit stop within a 10-minute walk from home were more likely to use active commuting (both p p = 0.002). Contrary to findings in high-income countries, the odds of active commuting were reduced with improved safety from crime (aOR =0.2, p = 0.003), aesthetics (aOR =0.2, p = 0.05), and street connectivity (aOR =0.2, p = 0.003). Different environmental attributes were associated with active commuting, suggesting that these relationships are complex and may distinctly differ from those in high-income countries. Unexpected inverse associations of perceived safety from crime and aesthetics with active commuting emphasize the need for high-quality epidemiologic studies with greater context specificity in the study of physical activity in LMICs. Findings have public health implications for India and suggest that caution should be taken when translating evidence across countries

Built environment · Business · Carpool · Context (archaeology · Economic growth · Economics · Enforcement · Environmental health · Geography · Level design · Metropolitan area · Overcrowding · Poison control · Political science · Public transport · Socioeconomics · Transport engineering · Walkability · Computer Science · Engineering · Medicine · Traffic and Road Safety · Transportation Planning and Optimization · Urban Transport and Accessibility

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