Health-related physical activity is associated with perception of environmental hygiene and safety among adults in low-income neighbourhoods in Nigeria

Abstract Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between health-related physical activity and perception of neighbourhood safety and hygiene among adults living in low socio-economic status (SES) areas of Nigeria. Methodology: A representative sample of 613 adults (20–65 years; 32% female) from low-SES neighbourhoods in Maiduguri were surveyed using the Nigerian adaptation of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF) and Physical Activity Neighbourhood Environmental scale (PANE). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the associations between sufficient health-related moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and neighbourhood safety and hygiene variables. Results: Less than half (45.7%) of Nigerian adults living in low-SES areas met the guideline for sufficient health-related MVPA. Engaging in sufficient MVPA was positively associated with perception of the neighbourhood being free from dirt such as garbage and odour (OR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.01–2.45) but negatively associated with perceptions of high crime rate during the day (OR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.43–0.90) and with high speed of traffic and aggressive driving that make walking dangerous in the neighbourhood (OR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.42–0.93). Conclusions: A successful campaign to promote health-related physical activity in the low-SES areas of Nigeria may require interventions on street cleaning and refuse disposal, crime rate, traffic control and driving speed.