Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Translating evidence to policy: urban interventions and physical activity promotion in Bogotá, Colombia and Curitiba, Brazil

  • Published:
Translational Behavioral Medicine

ABSTRACT

The growing evidence of the influence of urban environment on physical activity (PA) underscore the need for novel policy solutions to address the inequality, lack of space, and limited PA resources in rapidly growing Latin American cities. This study aims to better understand the PA policy process by conducting two case studies of Bogotá’s Ciclovía and Curitiba’s CuritibAtiva. Literature review of peer- and non-peer-reviewed documents and semi-structured interviews with stakeholders was conducted. In the cases of Ciclovía and CuritibAtiva, most policies conducive to program development and sustainability were developed outside the health sector in sports and recreation, urban planning, environment, and transportation. Both programs were developed by governments as initiatives to overcome inequalities and provide quality of life. In both programs, multisectoral policies mainly from recreation and urban planning created a window of opportunity for the development and sustainability of the programs and environments supportive of PA.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig 1
Fig 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Jacoby, E., Bull, F., & Neiman, A. (2003). Rapid changes in lifestyle make increased physical activity a priority for the Americas. Revista Panamericana de Salud Publica, 14, 226–228.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Pan American Health Organization. (2011). Regional strategy and plan of action on an integrated approach to the prevention and control of chronic diseases. Retrieved January 5, from http://www.paho.org/english/ad/dpc/nc/reg-strat-cncds.pdf.

  3. Owen, N., Humpel, N., Leslie, E., Bauman, A., & Sallis, J. F. (2004). Understanding environmental influences on walking: review and research agenda. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 27, 67–76.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Parra, D., Gomez, L., Pratt, M., Sarmiento, O. L., Mosquera, J., & Triche, E. (2007). Policy and built environment changes in Bogotá and their importance in health promotion. Indoor and Built Environment, 16, 344–348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. US Department of Health and Human Services. (1996). Physical activity and health: a report of the Surgeon General. US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

  6. Li, F., Fisher, K. J., Brownson, R. C., & Bosworth, M. (2005). Multilevel modelling of built environment characteristics related to neighbourhood walking activity in older adults. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 59, 558–564.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Cervero, R., Sarmiento, O. L., Jacoby, E., Gomez, L. F., & Neiman, A. (2009). Influences of built environments on walking and cycling: lessons from Bogotá. International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, 3, 203–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. World Health Organization. (2010). World Health Day—7 April 2010. Retrieved March 8, from http://www.who.int/world-health-day/2010/en/index.html.

  9. Sarmiento, O. L., Torres, A., Jacoby, E., Pratt, M., Schmid, T., & Stierling, G. (2010). The Ciclovía-recreativa: a mass recreational program with public health potential. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 7, S163–S180.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Reis, R., Hallal, P., Parra, D., et al. (2010). Promoting physical activity through community-wide policies and planning: findings from Curitiba, Brazil. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 7, 137–145.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ribeiro, I., Torres, A., Parra, D., et al. (2010). Using logic models as iterative tools for planning and evaluating physical activity promotion programs in Curitiba, Brazil. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 7, 155–162.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hoehner, C. M., Soares, J., Perez, D. P., et al. (2008). Physical activity interventions in Latin America: a systematic review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 34, 224–233.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Gomez, L. F., Mateus, J. C., & Cabrera, G. (2004). Leisure-time physical activity among women in a neighbourhood in Bogotá, Colombia: prevalence and socio-demographic correlates. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, 20, 1103–1109.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Gomez, L. F., Sarmiento, O. L., Lucumi, D., Espinosa, G., & Forero, R. (2005). Prevalence and factors associated with walking and bicycling for transport among young adults in two low income localities of Bogotá, Colombia. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2, 445–449.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Pratt, M., Brownson, R. C., Ramos, L. R., et al. (2010). Project GUIA: a model for understanding and promoting physical activity in Brazil and Latin America. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 7(Suppl 2), S131–S134.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Schmid, T., Pratt, M., & Witmer, L. (2006). A framework for physical activity policy research. Journal of Physical Activity and Health., 3, 20–29.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Varela, C. (1998). La ciudad latinoamericana en nuestros días. Revista austral de ciencias sociales, 19–27.

  18. United Nations. (2010). Habitat: United Nations conference on human settlements. Vancouver. Retrieved June 18, from http://www.unostamps.nl/subject_habitat_conference_i.htm.

  19. Gershman, J., & Irwin, A. (2000). Getting a grip on the global economy. In J. Yong, J. V. Millen, A. Irwin, & J. Gershman (Eds.), Dying for growth (pp. 11–43). Monroe: Common Courage.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Carrión, F. (2001). Las nuevas tendencias de urbanización en América Latina. In F. Carrion (Ed.), La ciudad construida. Urbanismo en América Latina (pp. 7–23). Quito: Flacso. Available at: http://www.flacso.org.ec/docs/urbanismo.pdf#page-7. Accessibility verified: January 5, 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Gómescásseres, T. (2003). Deporte, juego y paseo dominical: la recreación en espacios públicos urbanos, el caso de la Ciclovía de Bogotá. Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

  22. Menezes, C. (1996). Desenvolvimento urbano e meio ambiente: a experiência de Curitiba. Campinas: Papirus.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Ramírez, A. (1983). La ciudad para el ciudadano. In: Ciclovías, Bogotá para el ciudadano. Bogotá: Benjamín Villegas.

  24. Economist Intelligence Unit. (2011). Latin American Green City index. Retrieved January 5, from http://www.siemens.com/entry/cc/features/greencityindex_international/all/en/pdf/report_latam_en.pdf.

  25. Montezuma, R. (2005). The transformation of Bogotá, Colombia 1995–2000. Investing in citizenship and urban mobility. Global Urban Development, 1, 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Gomez, L. F., Sarmiento, O. L., Parra, D. C., et al. (2010). Characteristics of the built environment associated with leisure-time physical activity among adults in Bogota, Colombia: a multilevel study. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 7(Suppl 2), S196–S203.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá. (2011). Movilidad de bicicletas en Bogotá. Retrieved January 5, from http://camara.ccb.org.co/documentos/5054_informe_movilidad_en_bicicleta_en_bogota.pdf.

  28. Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar. (2011). Encuesta Nacional de Salud Nutricional de Colombia 2005. Retrieved January 11, from http://www.icbf.gov.co/icbf/directorio/portel/libreria/pdf/1ENSINLIBROCOMPLETO.pdf.

  29. IPPUC. (2011). Áreas verdes por habitantes e por barrio, em Curitiba 2008. Retrieved January 18, from http://www.ippuc.org.br/Bancodedados/Curitibaemdados/anexos/2008_Áreas%20Verdes%20por%20Habitante%20e%20por%20Bairro%20em%20Curitiba.pdf.

  30. Moura, E., de Morais Neto, O., Carvalho Malta, D., et al. (2008). Vigitel Brasil 2008: Vigilância de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas por inquérito telefônico nas capitais dos 26 estados brasileiros e no Distrito Federal (2006). Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia, 11(suppl 1), 20–37.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Balbach, E. (2011). Using case studies to do program evaluation. Retrieved January 5, from http://www.case.edu/affil/healthpromotion/ProgramEvaluation.pdf.

  32. Eyler, A., Brownson, R. C., Evenson, K. R., Levinger, D., Maddock, J. E., Pluto, D. et al. (2009). Policy influences on community trails development. Available at: http://prc.slu.edu/paprn.htm#1. Accessibility verified: April 6.

  33. Ritchie, J., & Spencer, L. (1994). Qualitative data analysis for applied policy research. In A. Bryman & R. G. Spencer (Eds.), Analyzing qualitative data (pp. 173–193). London: Routledge.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  34. QSR International. (2002). N6 NUD*IST 6.

  35. Alcaldía Mayor de Bogotá D.C. (2007) Instituto Distrital de Cultura y Turismo. La ciclovía: laboratorio para el futuro. Alcaldía Mayor de Bogotá D.C.

  36. Pizano, L. (2003). Bogotá y el cambio. Percepciones sobre la ciudad y la ciudadanía. Bogotá: Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Universidad de Los Andes. Available at: http://publicacionesfaciso.uniandes.edu.co/cpol/Bogot_%20y_el_cambio.pdf. Accessibility verified: January 5,2011.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Lotufo, P. A. (1998). Premature mortality from heart diseases in Brazil. A comparison with other countries. Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia, 70, 321–325.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Sawaf, C., & Cassou, J. C. (2005). Curitibativa programa de incentivo à atividade física da cidade de Curitiba. In S. Kruchleski & R. Rauchbach (Eds.), Curitibativa gestão nas cidades voltadas à promoção da atividade física, esporte, saúde e lazer: avaliação, prescrição e orientação de atividades físicas e recreativas, na promoção da saúde e hábitos saudáveis da população curitibana (p. 150). Curitiba: Rauchbach. Available at: http://boletimef.org/biblioteca/2709/livro/BoletimEF.org_CuritibAtiva-atividade-fisica-e-qualidade-de-vida-de-uma-cidade.pdf. Accessibility verified: January 5,2011.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Cassou, J. C., Grande, D., Kruchleski, S., Rauchbach, R., & Siqueira, J. E. (2008). Políticas públicas de atividade física. In J. E. Siqueira & J. C. Cassou (Eds.), Curitibativa: política pública de atividade física e qualidade de vida de uma cidade: avaliação, prescrição, relato e orientação da atividade física em busca da promoção da saúde e de hábitos saudáveis na população de Curitiba (p. 4). Curitiba: Gráfica e Editora Venezuela. Available at: http://www.boletimef.org/biblioteca/2709/livro/BoletimEF.org_CuritibAtiva-atividade-fisica-e-qualidade-de-vida-de-uma-cidade.pdf . Accessibility verified: January 5,2011.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Walter, M. (2004). Políticas públicas e descentralização do esporte e lazer da prefeitura municipal de Curitiba: gestão 1997–2000 e 2001–2004. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Física. Curitiba: Universidade Federal do Paraná. Available at: http://dspace.c3sl.ufpr.br/dspace/bitstream/1884/515/2/MarciaWalter.pdf. Accessibility verified: January 5,2011.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Krempel, M. C., Piloto, V. R. B. S., & Poletto, V. (2008). Mutirão da cidadania. In J. E. Siqueira & J. C. Cassou (Eds.), Curitibativa política pública de atividade física e qualidade de vida de uma cidade: avaliação, prescrição, relato e orientação da atividade física em busca da promoção da saúde e de hábitos saudáveis na população de Curitiba (p. 90). Curitiba: Editora Venezuela. Available at: http://www.boletimef.org/biblioteca/2709/livro/BoletimEF.org_CuritibAtiva-atividade-fisica-e-qualidade-de-vida-de-uma-cidade.pdf. Accessibility verified: January 5,2011.

    Google Scholar 

  42. República de Colombia. (2011). Decreto 515 de 1986. Retrieved January 5, from http://www.pereira.gov.co/docs/2009/Normatividad/1986/Decreto_515.pdf.

  43. República de Colombia. (1991). Constitución Política de Colombia. Retrieved January 5, 2011, from http://wsp.presidencia.gov.co/Normativa/Documents/ConstitucionPoliticaColombia_20100810.pdf.

  44. Congreso de la República de Colombia. (2011). Ley 181 de 1995. Retrieved January 5, from http://www.secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/basedoc/ley/1995/ley_0181_1995.html.

  45. Alcaldía Mayor de Bogotá. (2011). Departamento Administrativo de Planeación Distrital. Formar Ciudad. Plan de desarrollo económico, social y de obras públicas para Santa Fe de Bogotá D.C. 1995–1998. Retrieved January 5, from http://www.alcaldiabogota.gov.co/sisjur/normas/Norma1.jsp?i=2393#1.

  46. Alcaldía Mayor de Bogotá. (2011). Departamento Administrativo de Planeación Distrital. Bogotá Sin Indiferencia. Un compromiso social contra la pobreza y la exclusión. Plan de Desarrollo económico, social y de obras públicas. Bogotá D.C. 2004–2008. Retrieved January 5, from http://www.cideu.org/site/go.php?id=499.

  47. Concejo de Bogotá. (2011). Acuerdo 6 de 1998. Retrieved January 5, from http://www.alcaldiabogota.gov.co/sisjur/normas/Norma1.jsp?i=535.

  48. Concejo de Bogotá. (2010). Comisión segunda permanente de gobierno. Informe de actividades mes de mayo 2009 [Report of activities. May 2009]. Retrieved February 15, from concejodebogota.gov.co/…/20090701/…/20090701090058/informe_de_mayo.pdf.

  49. Alcaldía Mayor de Bogotá. Decreto 566 de 1976.

  50. Congreso de la República de Colombia. (2011). Ley 769 de 2002. Retrieved January 5, from http://www.alcaldiabogota.gov.co/sisjur/normas/Norma1.jsp?i=5557 .

  51. Concejo de Bogotá. (2011). Acuerdo 308 de 2008. Retrieved January 5, from http://www.alcaldiabogota.gov.co/sisjur/normas/Norma1.jsp?i=30681.

  52. Congreso de la República de Colombia. (2011). Ley 1355 de 2009. Retrieved January 5, from http://www.mij.gov.co/normas/2009/l13552009.htm.

  53. Ministerio de la Protección Social. (2011). Plan Nacional de Salud Pública. Decreto 3039 de 2007. Retrieved January 5, from http://www.minproteccionsocial.gov.co/Normatividad/DECRETO%203039%20DE%202007.PDF.

  54. Silva, V. (2011). Proyecto del Ley 071 de 2007 por medio de la cual se declara el “Programa de ciclovía y recreovía de Bogotá”, como patrimonio cultural vivo de la Nación y se dictan otras disposiciones. Retrieved January 5, from ftp://ftp.camara.gov.co/secretaria/debate2/P.L.071-2007C%20(CICLOV%C3%8DA%20Y%20RECREOVIA).doc.

  55. PMC. (2007). Plano Municipal de Controle Ambiental e Desenvolvimento Sustentável. Curitiba: Secretaria Municipal de Meio Ambiente. Available at: http://www.ippuc.org.br/ippucweb/sasi/home/visualizar.php?doc=../arquivos/documentos/D35/D35_041_BR.pdf. Accessibility verified: January 5,2011.

    Google Scholar 

  56. IPPUC (2008). História do planejamento urbano. Retrieved November 28, from http://www.ippuc.org.br/pensando-a-cidade/index_hist_planej.htm.

  57. Rechia, S. (2003). Parques públicos de Curitiba: a relação cidade-natureza nas experiências de lazer. Campinas: Faculdade de Educação Física, Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Available at: http://cutter.unicamp.br/document/?code=vtls000313915. Accessibility verified: January 5, 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  58. PMC. (2011). Cria o Instituto de Pesquisa e Planejamento Urbano de Curitiba. Lei Municipal 2660/65. Retrieved January 5, from http://domino.cmc.pr.gov.br/contlei.nsf/baac9fc8c6760aa5052568fc004fc17e/27bd991359fee5980325690300765232?OpenDocument.

  59. PMC. (2011). Dispõe sobre o zoneamento urbano de Curitiba. Lei Municipal 4199/72. Retrieved January 5, from http://domino.cmc.pr.gov.br/contlei.nsf/735cd5bfb1a32f34052568fc004f61b8/826188eeab86e85b032569030075ce7a?OpenDocument.

  60. Oliveira, D. (2000). Curitiba e o mito da cidade modelo. Curitiba: Editora da UFPR.

    Google Scholar 

  61. PMC. (2011). Dispõe sobre a política de proteção, conservação e recuperação do meio ambiente, revoga a Lei 7447/90. Curitiba PMD Lei no. 7833/91. Vol 7833/91. Retrieved January 5, from http://domino.cmc.pr.gov.br/contlei.nsf/4661c5926d05cf08052568fc004fc17f/c70446a95e3f2817032569030074f62f?OpenDocument.

  62. Pan American Health Organization Regional Council on Healthy Eating and Active Living and Non-Communicable Disease Unit, La Vía RecreaActiva de Guadalajara, Schools of Medicine and Engineering of the University of the Andes Bogotá Colombia, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ciclovía de Bogotá. What is the current status of Ciclovías Recreativas in the Americas? In: Ciclovia Recreativa Implementation and Advocacy Manual. Retrieved January 5, 2011, from http://cicloviarecreativa.uniandes.edu.co/english/introduction.html.

  63. Roussos, S., & Fawcett, S. (2000). A review of collaborative partnerships as a strategy for improving community health. Annual Review of Public Health, 21, 369–402.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are deeply indebted to all the people who contributed to this paper by providing information. In alphabetical order they are Lucy Barriga, Miguel Ignacio Bermúdez, Carlos Orlando Ferreira, Rocío Gamez, Juan Camilo Hoyos, Edwin Martínez, Felipe Montes, Guillermo Peñalosa, Mauricio Ramos, Augusto Ramírez Ocampo, Oscar Ruiz, Alfonso Segura, and Roberto Zarama. The authors also want to thank Laura Fernanda Romero and Natalia Salamanca who transcribed all the interviews, James Merrel and Roy Nijhof for their valuable comments on earlier versions of this manuscript, and Diana Fernández and Gustavo Espinel for designing the figures. We also are grateful for the support from Amy Eyler and Ciro Romélio Rodriguez-Añez. This study was funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) contract U48/DP000060 (Prevention Research Centers Program) Physical Activity Policy Research Network and Project GUIA (Guide for Useful Interventions for Activity). It also received funding from Colciencias grant 519 2010. Sarmiento received funding from the fund for sustainable mobility research projects by La Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 3 #18A 10, Bogotá, Colombia

    Adriana Díaz del Castillo MD, MA & Olga L Sarmiento MD, MPh, PhD

  2. Department of Physical Education, Pontiff Catholic University of Parana, Rua Petit Carneiro, 571 apt 501, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil

    Rodrigo S Reis MSc, PhD

  3. Prevention Research Center in St. Louis, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Ross C Brownson PhD

  4. Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil

    Rodrigo S Reis MSc, PhD

  5. Division of Public Health Sciences and Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Ross C Brownson PhD

Authors
  1. Adriana Díaz del Castillo MD, MA
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Olga L Sarmiento MD, MPh, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rodrigo S Reis MSc, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ross C Brownson PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adriana Díaz del Castillo MD, MA.

Additional information

Implications

Practice: Building on other sectors’ initiatives (i.e., sports and recreation, culture, education, urban planning) can be a successful strategy for promoting physical activity where resources are limited.

Policy: Policies at the local and national level that incorporate multisectoral collaborations are essential for the development and sustainability of massive programs that promote physical activity.

Research: There is a need for evaluating physical activity community programs and catching-up with practice-based evidence, which can be enhanced by the joint work of international networks and multidisciplinary groups.

About this article

Cite this article

Díaz del Castillo, A., Sarmiento, O.L., Reis, R.S. et al. Translating evidence to policy: urban interventions and physical activity promotion in Bogotá, Colombia and Curitiba, Brazil. Behav. Med. Pract. Policy Res. 1, 350–360 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13142-011-0038-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13142-011-0038-y

KEYWORDS

Search

Navigation