Inequities in Access: Public Open Spaces and Physical Activity Disparities Among Brazilian Preschoolers in Vulnerable Communities.

BACKGROUND

Public open spaces (POS) can promote physical activity (PA) in children, but evidence of their role in vulnerable contexts remains limited. This study examines how POS characteristics (distance, quality, and parental perception) influence PA among preschoolers in low-income neighborhoods.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in public preschools in peripheral neighborhoods of a capital city in Northeastern Brazil. Moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) and total PA (TPA) of 128 preschoolers aged 3-5 (56.9% male) were measured using accelerometry. POS accessibility and quality were assessed using the Physical Activity Resource Assessment and Geographic Information Systems. Parental perceptions of the neighborhood and sociodemographic data were collected through interviews. Binary (for MVPA) and ordinal (for TPA) logistic regressions tested associations, adjusting for sex, age, maternal education, and income (P < .05).

RESULTS

Preschoolers' mean MVPA time was 67.6 (20.0) and TPA time was 296.6 (52.4). A greater Euclidean distance from home to the POS was associated with greater odds of meeting MVPA recommendations (odds ratio [OR] = 6.34; P < .01). Greater walking distance (OR = 2.23; P = .02), higher POS quality (OR = 1.05; P < .01), and nighttime safety (OR = 0.39; P = .02) significantly predicted TPA levels.

CONCLUSION

In socially vulnerable environments, POS distance and quality play differentiated roles in preschoolers' PA. Although a greater distance may encourage active travel, the quality and safety of POS remain critical to PA. Therefore, equitable urban planning is necessary to optimize POS resources for preschoolers in vulnerable communities.