How actively do children travel to their pre-school setting?. Issue 2 (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oxford, Liz; Pollock, Jon
• Is Part Of: Journal of transport & health. Volume 2:Issue 2(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 151
• Page End: 159
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Transportation -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Periodicals; Public Health -- Periodicals; Noise, Transportation -- Periodicals; Air Pollutants -- Periodicals; 388
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jth.2015.02.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-1405

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="ab0005"> <title id="sect0005">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="sect0010">Background</title> <p id="sp0030">Physical activity in early childhood can impact favourably on later child and adult health and walking or cycling for transport, otherwise known as 'active travel', is recommended as a way of increasing activity levels in children and adults. This preliminary study focussed on active travel amongst pre-school aged children, an age group that has received little attention in this respect. It aimed to determine the prevalence of active travel in four pre-school settings and assess factors influencing travel patterns.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0015">Methods</title> <p id="sp0035">A cross sectional travel survey in four pre-schools: two in each of two contrasting socio-economic neighbourhoods was completed in April 2013.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0020">Results</title> <p id="sp0040">289 questionnaires were completed i.e. a response rate of 83.5%. Analysis focussed on the four pre-schools since sample heterogeneity precluded neighbourhood comparisons. Active travel prevalence for children usually arriving and/or collected for each pre-school was 40.8% (A), 56.9% (B), 34.1% (C) and 60.0% (D). Regression analysis showed that distance to pre-school, weather and other travel commitments independently predicted active travel.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0025">Conclusion</title> <p id="sp0045">This preliminary study identified factors associated with active travel amongst pre-school aged children and issues warranting further research. Addressing these could assist in developing effective strategies to promote active travel in the early years of life.</p> </sec> </abstract>