PARENT'S PERCEPTIONS OF NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY AND RISK OF TYPE 2 DIABETES IN MEXICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

We conducted a study with Mexican American children and their parents and found that having playgrounds in the child's neighborhood lowers the risk of having type 2 diabetes. Purpose (a): The number of people suffering from type 2 diabetes (2 DM) has increased drastically over the last 30 years, especially in children under the age of 18. Specifically, Mexican American children have been diagnosed at alarming rates. Inactivity in children has contributed to these high rates of diabetes, but there is not sufficient information on factors that contribute to this inactivity. The purpose of this study was to explore parent’s perceptions of the features in their neighborhoods and its safety as it relates to their child being at risk of developing 2 DM. Methods (b): 144 Mexican American participants, ages 10-14 were enrolled in this study which included one visit that lasted approximately two hours. The primary caregiver was asked via a survey to assess the features and safety of the neighborhood in which the child participant lives. A set of measurements and family history were taken on each participant. “High-risk” status was assigned if participants had ≥3 of the following risk factors: BMI ≥95 percentile, high blood glucose, presence of Acanthosis Nigricans, family history of 2 DM in a 1st or 2nd degree relative, and history of hypertension or blood pressure ≥95th percentile. Simple and multiple logistic regressions were performed with high risk status for 2 DM as the outcome variable and neighborhood safety, presence of sidewalks and playgrounds in neighborhoods as the primary predictors. The adjusted model controlled for child’s age, gender, highest education level of household and household income. Results (c): Adjusted analyses illustrate that the presence of playgrounds in the respondent’s neighborhoods presented a 76% decreased odds of being at risk for 2 DM [OR: 0.24; 95% CI (0.06-0.86)]. The parent’s perceptions of neighborhood safety and the presence of sidewalks were not significant findings. In secondary findings, participants who responded that Spanish was the primary language spoken in the home had 79% decreased odds of being at risk for 2 DM [OR: 0.21; 95% CI (0.11-1.35)]. Conclusions (d): Potential policy implications resulting from the analysis of the study point to an increase in potential support for the establishment of playgrounds in areas that are deprived of such elements.