Development and Validation of the Mexican Public Open Spaces Tool (MexPOS).

Public open spaces (POS) are "publicly owned spaces such as parks, green areas, squares, marketplaces, streets and highways which are of public access". Some attributes could increase or decrease participants' attendance. Thus, reliable and valid audit tools are needed in order to measure these attributes. This study aimed to develop and validate a tool to assess POS features within the Mexico City context. The Mexican Public Open Spaces Tool (MexPOS) was developed based on (1) two validated POS audit tools, (2) several visits to the POS, (3) pilot testing, and (4) multiple work sessions with a group of specialists. The original tool included 181 items divided into nine sections. Trained personnel visited and evaluated 944 POS in Mexico City. An exploratory factor analysis was performed to examine the construct validity of the items and the relationship between the subscales. The final model resulted in seven factors: (1) Food and Wellness Environment (α = 0.15), (2) Maintenance (α = 0.81), (3) Amenities (α = 0.72), (4) Legibility (α = 0.59), (5) Security (α = 0.48), (6) Perceived Environment (α = 0.65), and (7) Urban Environment (α = 0.58). Our study highlights the relevance of using a validated tool to measure POS characteristics related to participants' attendance to help assess infrastructure improvements and identify priority areas for changing socio-urban environments for physical activity.

[Use of social marketing to increase water consumption among school-age children in Mexico City]. / Uso del mercadeo social para aumentar el consumo de agua en escolares de la Ciudad de México.

OBJECTIVE: To increase water consumption in school children in Mexico City through a social marketing intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cluster quasi-experimental design. Intervention of three months in schools, including water provision and designed based on social marketing. Reported changes in attitude, knowledge and behavior were compared pre and post intervention. RESULTS: Children of the intervention group (n=116) increased in 38% (171 ml) water consumption during school time, control group (n=167) decreased its consumption in 21% (140 ml) (p<0.05), according to their reported consumption. In a sub-sample reported consumption of sweetened beverages decreased 437 ml in the IG and 267 ml in the CG (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Social marketing and environmental modifications were effective on increasing water consumption among children, strategy that might contribute to mitigate childhood obesity.

Uso del mercadeo social para aumentar el consumo de agua en escolares de la Ciudad de México / Use of social marketing to increase water consumption among school-age children in Mexico City

Objetivo. Incrementar el consumo de agua en escolares de la Ciudad de México a través de una intervención de mercadeo social. Material y métodos. Diseño cuasi-experimental por englomerados. Intervención de tres meses en escuelas primarias que incluyó provisión de agua potable y diseñado con base en el mercado social. Se comparó la actitud, el conocimiento y el comportamiento reportado pre y post intervención. Resultados. Los niños (n=116) aumentaron en 38% (171 ml) el consumo de agua reportado durante el horario escolar, mientras que en el grupo control (n=167) disminuyó en 21% (140 ml), diferencias (p<0.05). En una submuestra, el consumo de bebidas azucaradas reportado disminuyó 437 ml en el grupo intervención y 267 ml en el grupo control (p<0.05). Conclusión. El mercadeo social, incluyendo la modificación del ambiente, fue efectiva en aumentar el consumo de agua reportado en niños y es una estrategia que podría contribuir a mitigar la obesidad infantil.

Objective. To increase water consumption in school children in Mexico City through a social marketing intervention. Materials and methods. Cluster cuasi-experimental design. Intervention of three months in schools, including water provision and designed based on social marketing. Reported changes in attitude, knowledge and behavior were compared pre and post intervention. Results. Children of the intervention group (n=116) increased in 38% (171 ml) water consumption during school time, control group (n=167) decreased its consumption in 21% (140 ml) (p<0.05), according to their reported consumption. In a sub-sample reported consumption of sweetened beverages decreased 437 ml in the IG and 267 ml in the CG (p<0.05). Conclusion. Social marketing and environmental modifications were effective on increasing water consumption among children, strategy that might contribute to mitigate childhood obesity.