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Table 2 Descriptive characteristics of built environment attributes by location

From: Association between perceived built environmental attributes and physical activity among adults in South Africa

Variables (N (%))

Urban = 290

Rural = 381

p-value

All = 671

Environmental attributes

 Land use mix-access

  I can do most of my shopping at local stores

  

<0.001

 

  Agree

243 (83.8)

218 (57.2)

 

461 (68.7)

  Disagree

47 (16.2)

163 (42.8)

 

210 (31.3)

  Stores are within easy walking distance of my home

  

<0.001

 

  Agree

243 (83.8)

218 (57.2)

 

461 (68.7)

  Disagree

47 (16.2)

163 (42.8)

 

210 (31.3)

  There are many places to go within easy walking distance of my home

  

<0.001

 

  Agree

258 (89.0)

237 (62.2)

 

495 (73.8)

  Disagree

32 (11.0)

144 (37.8)

 

176 (26.2)

  It is easy to walk to a transit stop (bus, train) from my home

  

<0.001

 

  Agree

258 (89.0)

249 (65.4)

 

507 (75.6)

  Disagree

32 (11.0)

132 (34.6)

 

164 (24.4)

Street connectivity

 The distance between intersections in my neighborhood is usually short

  

<0.001

 

 Agree

238 (82.1)

87 (22.8)

 

325 (48.4)

 Disagree

52 (17.9)

294 (77.2)

 

346 (51.6)

 There are many four-way intersections in my neighborhood

  

<0.001

 

 Agree

240 (82.8)

125 (32.8)

 

365 (54.4)

 Disagree

50 (17.2)

256 (67.2)

 

306 (45.6)

 There are many alternative routes for getting from place to place in my neighborhood

  

<0.001

 

 Agree

248 (85.5)

208 (54.6)

 

456 (68.0)

 Disagree

42 (14.5)

173 (45.4)

 

215 (32.0)

Places for walking and cycling

 There are sidewalks on most of the streets in my neighborhood

  

<0.001

 

 Agree

246 (84.8)

118 (31.0)

 

364 (54.2)

 Disagree

44 (15.2)

263 (69.0)

 

307 (45.8)

 The sidewalks in my neighborhood are well maintained

  

<0.001

 

 Agree

224 (77.2)

97 (25.5)

 

321 (47.8)

 Disagree

66 (22.8)

284 (74.5)

 

350 (52.2)

 There is a grass/dirt strip that separates the streets from the sidewalks in my neighborhood

  

<0.001

 

 Agree

199 (68.6)

122 (32.0)

 

321 (47.8)

 Disagree

91 (31.4)

259 (68.0)

 

350 (52.2)

Neighborhood surroundings

 Trees give shade for the sidewalks in my neighborhood.

  

<0.001

 

 Agree

198 (68.3)

114 (29.9)

 

312 (46.6)

 Disagree

92 (31.7)

267 (70.1)

 

359 (53.5)

 There are many interesting things to look at while walking in my neighborhood.

  

<0.001

 

 Agree

210 (72.4)

104 (27.3)

 

314 (46.8)

 Disagree

80 (27.6)

277 (72.7)

 

357 (53.2)

 My neighborhood is generally free from litter.

  

<0.001

 

 Agree

173 (59.7)

107 (28.1)

 

280 (41.7)

 Disagree

117 (40.3)

274 (71.9)

 

391 (58.3)

Safety from traffic

 There is so much traffic along the street I live such that it makes it difficult to walk in my neighborhood

  

<0.001

 

 Agree

235 (81.0)

127 (33.3)

 

362 (53.9)

 Disagree

55 (19.0)

254 (66.7)

 

309 (46.1)

 There is so much traffic along nearby streets that it makes it difficult to walk in my neighborhood

  

<0.001

 

 Agree

179 (61.7)

61 (16.0)

 

240 (35.8)

 Disagree

111 (38.3)

320 (84.0)

 

431 (64.2)

 The crosswalks in my neighborhood help walkers feel safe crossing busy streets

  

<0.001

 

 Agree

228 (78.6)

98 (25.7)

 

326 (48.6)

 Disagree

62 (21.4)

283 (74.3)

 

345 (51.4)

Safety from crime

 My neighborhood streets are well lit at night

  

<0.001

 

 Agree

234 (80.7)

54 (14.2)

 

288 (42.9)

 Disagree

56 (19.3)

327 (85.8)

 

383 (57.1)

 The crime rate in my neighborhood makes it unsafe to go on walks during the day

  

<0.001

 

 Agree

22 (76.2)

133 (34.9)

 

354 (52.8)

 Disagree

69 (23.8)

248 (65.1)

 

317 (47.2)

 The crime rate in my neighborhood makes it unsafe to go on walks at night

  

<0.001

 

 Agree

243 (83.8)

257 (67.5)

 

500 (74.5)

 Disagree

47 (16.2)

124 (32.5)

 

171 (25.5)

  1. Bold is significant p value