We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Association between Young People's Neighbourhoods' Characteristics and Health Risk Factors in Saudi Arabia.
- Authors
Al-Nuaim, Anwar; Bursais, Abdulmalek K.; Hassan, Marwa M.; Alaqil, Abdulrahman I.; Collins, Peter; Safi, Ayazullah
- Abstract
Introduction: A neighbourhood's environmental characteristics can positively or negatively influence health and well-being. To date, no studies have examined this concept in the context of Saudi Arabian youth. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the association between a neighbourhood's environmental characteristics and health risk factors among Saudi Arabian youth. Methods: A total of 335 secondary-school students (175 males, 160 females), aged 15–19 years old, participated. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference measurements were taken, and physical activity (steps) was measured via pedometer. The perceived neighbourhood environment was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Environment Module (IPAQ-E). Results: Significant differences were found between the youths from urban, rural farm, and rural desert locations in terms of BMI, waist circumference, daily steps, accessibility, infrastructure, social environment, household vehicles, safety, and access to facilities (p < 0.001). Rural desert youths were less active, and males (26.43 + 8.13) and females (24.68 + 5.03) had higher BMIs compared to the youths from other areas. Chi-square analysis revealed a significant difference (χ21 = 12.664, p < 0.001) between the genders as to social-environment perceptions. Males perceived their neighbourhood as a social environment more than was reported by females (68.39% and 50.28%, respectively). Pearson's correlation revealed negative significant relationships between steps and both safety of neighbourhood (r = −0.235, p < 0.001) and crime rate (r = −0.281, p < 0.001). Discussion: Geographical location, cultural attitudes, lack of facilities, and accessibility impact youth physical-activity engagement and weight status; this includes environmental variables such as residential density, neighbourhood safety, household motor vehicles, and social environment. Conclusions: This is the first study examining associations with neighbourhood environments in the youths of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Significant associations and geographical differences were found. More research and policy interventions to address neighbourhoods' environmental characteristics and health risk factors relative to Saudi Arabian youth are warranted.
- Subjects
SAUDI Arabia; ENVIRONMENTAL health; RISK assessment; HEALTH services accessibility; LIFESTYLES; PEARSON correlation (Statistics); SCALE analysis (Psychology); HEALTH status indicators; ADOLESCENT health; BODY mass index; DATA analysis; RESEARCH funding; HIGH school students; QUESTIONNAIRES; BODY weight; CONFIDENCE; CARDIOVASCULAR diseases risk factors; POPULATION geography; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; CHI-squared test; WAIST circumference; PEDOMETERS; SOCIAL context; TEENAGERS' conduct of life; ODDS ratio; METROPOLITAN areas; RURAL conditions; HEALTH behavior; RESEARCH methodology; ANALYSIS of variance; STATISTICS; STUDENT attitudes; COMPARATIVE studies; CONFIDENCE intervals; NEIGHBORHOOD characteristics; PHYSICAL activity; CULTURAL pluralism; ADOLESCENCE
- Publication
Healthcare (2227-9032), 2024, Vol 12, Issue 11, p1120
- ISSN
2227-9032
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/healthcare12111120