Perceived Neighborhood Environment and Its Association with Health Screening and Exercise Participation amongst Low-Income Public Rental Flat Residents in Singapore

Liang En Wee, Yun Ying Tammy Tsang, Sook Muay Tay, Andre Cheah, Mark Puhaindran, Jaime Yee, Shannon Lee, Kellynn Oen and Choon Huat Gerald Koh
Additional contact information
Liang En Wee: Singhealth Internal Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169608, Singapore
Yun Ying Tammy Tsang: Institute of Mental Health, Singapore 539747, Singapore
Sook Muay Tay: Department of Anesthesia, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169608, Singapore
Andre Cheah: Department of Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, National University Hospital, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
Mark Puhaindran: Department of Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, National University Hospital, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
Jaime Yee: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
Shannon Lee: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
Kellynn Oen: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
Choon Huat Gerald Koh: Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore 117549, Singapore

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 8, 1-16

Abstract: Background : In Singapore, an Asian city-state, more than 80% live in public housing. While the majority (90%) own their homes, a needy minority lives in rental flats. Public rental flats are built in the same location as owner-occupied blocks. We evaluated factors associated with perceptions of the neighborhood environment and its association with exercise and health screening participation. Methods : Logistic regression was used to identify associations between perceptions of the neighborhood environment (overall perceived neighborhood disadvantage, safety, and convenience) and sociodemographic factors, as well as exercise and screening participation, amongst residents aged ?60 years in two Singaporean public housing precincts in 2016. Results : Our response rate was 62.1% (528/800). Staying in a rental flat independently was associated with increased neighborhood disadvantage (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 1.58, 95%CI = 1.06–2.35). Staying in a stand-alone block (as opposed to staying in a mixed block comprised of both rental and owner-occupied units) was associated with perceptions of a poorer physical environment (aOR = 1.81, 95%CI = 1.22–2.68) and lower perceived proximity to recreational areas (aOR = 1.14, 95%CI = 1.04–1.25). Perceptions of neighborhood disadvantage were independently associated with reduced exercise participation (aOR = 0.67, 95%CI = 0.45–0.98) and reduced participation in diabetes screening (aOR = 0.63, 95%CI = 0.41–0.95). Conclusion : Despite sharing the same built environment, differences in the perception of the neighborhood environment between low-socioeconomic status (SES) and high-SES communities persist. Perceived neighborhood disadvantage is associated with lower participation in regular exercise and diabetes screening.

Keywords: neighborhood environment; public housing; Asian; health behaviors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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