Use of a public park for physical activity in the Caribbean: evidence from a mixed methods study in Jamaica

Abstract

Background Small island Caribbean countries such as Jamaica are now facing an epidemic of obesity and decreased physical activity (PA) levels. Public parks have been shown to be important resources for PA that also provide psychological and social benefits associated with increased PA. There are no studies that document PA in parks in the Caribbean. Methods This study utilized a mixed method approach by using the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) to obtain baseline data on park usage patterns in Emancipation Park, a large urban public park in Jamaica. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted to gain additional insights on the park’s use for PA. Results The park was used mostly by females, in the evenings and by persons 18–64 years old. Females had significantly lower mean energy expenditure (EE) than males (0.078 versus 0.080 kcal/kg/min, p < 0.05). In-depth interviews revealed that safety, a central location within a business district, aesthetic appeal, a walking track and individual health benefits were key reasons for persons engaging in PA at the park. Conclusions This is the first study to describe the usage of a public park for PA in Jamaica. The study elicited aspects of park use for PA in a major urban park in Jamaica from different vantage points by using direct systematic observation augmented with a qualitative approach. It revealed important differential park use for PA by sex, age group and EE levels, and provided insights into factors that motivate and hinder park usage for PA. This can be used by policymakers in Jamaica to inform PA interventions to reduce obesity, provide baseline data for comparisons with other parks in developing countries and to advocate for well-designed public parks. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-019-7247-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity in the Jamaican population: A comparative analysis of latent variable models

“…This may explain the added vulnerability of women to the burden of multimorbidity, given that the prevalence of obesity among females is over three times as high as that in males. From a programmatic perspective, this finding also highlights the need to better target obesity, which has been identified as major public health problem throughout Jamaica [ 39 , 40 ], and the wider Caribbean region [ 41 – 43 ]. Indeed, while NCD prevention and control efforts should focus on addressing the complex needs of persons with multimorbidity, by supporting them to manage their existing conditions and prevent the accumulation of additional ones, activities need also focus on the Relatively Healthy subgroup for whom the presence of obesity may predispose to a multiplicity of chronic disorders.…”

Systems science for developing policy to improve physical activity, the Caribbean

“…Stakeholders described an inconsistent pattern of development of spaces for physical activity. They considered some efforts made to develop well maintained and guarded spaces for physical activity (such as Emancipation Park in Kingston, Jamaica, 26 or the boardwalk in Barbados) 27 were positive infrastructure projects. However, they thought that such well-developed spaces are often not integrated into communities, especially communities with a lower socioeconomic status.…”

Who moves in vulnerable Caribbean neighborhoods? Positive deviance for physical activity: Findings from the Jamaica health and Lifestyle Survey 2017 (JHLS III)

“…In studies in the USA and Jamaica, physical and social environmental barriers to PA have been identified across the lifespan, including proximity and access to recreational facilities, neighborhood safety and disorder (both physical and social) which are also linked with a perception of safety ( Douglas et al, 2018 , Cunningham-Myrie et al, 2019 ). However, the association is not consistent, as other studies in the USA have reported opposite or no associations ( Bauman et al, 2012 ).…”