Table 2 NEWS-Africa Item and Scale Descriptives and Test-Retest Reliabilities (n = 301)

A. Types of residences

Types of residences in your neighborhood (not weighted)*

1-6

0.80 (0.75, 0.83)

2.88

1.69

B1. Kiosk/corner store/ small grocery

1-5

0.73 (0.67, 0.78)

4.22

1.08

B2. Supermarket

1-5

0.73 (0.66, 0.78)

2.80

1.32

B3. Fruit/vegetable market

1-5

0.73 (0.67, 0.78)

2.78

1.36

B4. Fast food restaurant

1-5

0.82 (0.78, 0.86)

3.06

1.49

B5. Non-fast food restaurant

1-5

0.71 (0.65, 0.77)

2.82

1.52

B6. Pub or bar*

1-5

0.69 (0.62, 0.74)

3.51

1.43

B7. Cinema/theatre*

1-5

0.62 (0.54, 0.69)

1.55

1.04

B8. Place of worship/ faith centre**

1-5

0.67 (0.60, 0.73)

2.84

1.41

B9. Computer/cell kiosks*

1-5

0.75 (0.69, 0.79)

3.07

1.50

B10. Library

1-5

0.58 (0.49, 0.66)

1.68

1.10

B11. Any school

1-5

0.69 (0.63, 0.75)

3.12

1.47

B12. Your workplace or school

1-5

0.72 (0.65, 0.77)

2.05

1.41

B13. Book store

1-5

0.69 (0.61, 0.74)

1.98

1.30

B14. Health clinic/ hospital*

1-5

0.69 (0.62, 0.74)

2.44

1.33

B15. Pharmacy/ chemist

1-5

0.74 (0.68, 0.79)

3.05

1.42

B16. Salon/ barber shop

1-5

0.66 (0.58, 0.72)

3.72

1.28

B17. Clothing store

1-5

0.71 (0.65, 0.77)

2.48

1.45

B18. Electronics shop*

1-5

0.74 (0.68, 0.79)

2.43

1.45

B19. Public bus or train stop

1-5

0.70 (0.64, 0.76)

2.76

1.53

B20. Taxi motorbike stop*

1-5

0.68 (0.60, 0.74)

3.47

1.45

B21. Sports field or court*

1-5

0.69 (0.62, 0.74)

2.47

1.40

B22. Other outdoor recreation space

1-5

0.70 (0.63, 0.75)

2.14

1.42

B23. Other indoor recreation facilities

1-5

0.71 (0.64, 0.77)

2.03

1.27

B24. Dance/ martial arts*

1-5

0.63 (0.55, 0.70)

1.59

1.17

B25. Tap/well, pond, river or stream for fresh water**

1-5

0.50 (0.41, 0.58)

4.36

1.25

B26. Farm**

1-5

0.71 (0.64, 0.76)

1.86

1.45

B27. Places for hunting/ collecting firewood**

1-5

0.76 (0.70, 0.81)

1.57

1.19

Destinations scale – mean of items 1-20 and 25

1.14-4.75

0.79 (0.74, 0.83)

2.90

0.74

Recreation scale – mean of items 21-24

1-5

0.74 (0.68, 0.79)

2.10

1.01

C. Access to services and places

C1. Stores are within easy walking distance of my house

1-4

0.68 (0.61, 0.74)

3.20

1.04

C2. There are many places to go, such as food markets and restaurants, within easy walking distance of my house

1-4

0.73 (0.68, 0.78)

2.80

1.12

C3. It is easy to walk to a transit/transport stop from my house

1-4

0.68 (0.61, 0.73)

3.06

1.06

C4. It is easy to walk to an outdoor recreation place space from my house*

1-4

0.62 (0.55, 0.69)

2.48

1.16

C5. It is easy to walk to an indoor recreation facility from my house*

1-4

0.62 (0.54, 0.69)

2.20

1.09

C6. Places to get essential supplies like water and firewood are within easy walking distance of my house**

1-4

0.63 (0.56, 0.69)

3.01

1.10

C7. There are gathering places within easy distance of my house*

1-4

0.66 (0.59, 0.72)

2.77

1.04

Access to services scale – mean of items 1-7

1-4

0.71 (0.64, 0.76)

2.79

0.62

D1. The distance to walk to the closest next street in my neighborhood is usually short

1-4

0.52 (0.43, 0.60)

3.27

0.96

D2. There are many alternative roads for getting from place to place in my neighborhood

1-4

0.54 (0.46, 0.62)

3.26

0.95

D3. There are many unofficial routes connecting places in my area**

1-4

0.62 (0.54, 0.68)

2.86

1.09

D4. There are many shortcuts such as foot paths between roads in my area*

1-4

0.64 (0.57, 0.71)

2.80

1.10

D5. Some roads or walking/foot paths in my area are blocked by gates or barriers*

1-4

0.68 (0.61, 0.73)

2.76

1.14

Roads and walking paths scale – mean of items 1-5 (after recodes)

1.20-4

0.60 (0.53, 0.67)

2.99

0.54

E. Places for walking, cycling and playing

E1. There are formally provided sidewalks on most of the roads in my neighborhood

1-4

0.75 (0.69, 0.79)

2.00

1.17

E2. The sidewalks in my neighborhood are well maintained*

1-4

0.71 (0.65, 0.76)

1.77

1.08

E3. The sidewalks in my neighborhood are often blocked by merchandise, construction materials, etc.**

1-4

0.68 (0.61, 0.73)

2.37

1.24

E4. Sidewalks are separated from the road in my neighborhood by parked cars…

1-4

0.61 (0.53, 0.68)

1.80

1.08

E5. There is a grass/dirt strip that separates the road from the sidewalks in my neighborhood

1-4

0.74 (0.69, 0.79)

1.57

1.01

E6. There are signals or crosswalks / zebra crossings to help walkers cross the busy roads in my neighborhood

1-4

0.74 (0.68, 0.79)

1.72

1.09

E7. There are curb ramps that go from sidewalk level to road level at road crossings in my neighborhood to assist the elderly…*

1-4

0.72 (0.66, 0.77)

1.60

1.02

E8. There is enough time for people on foot to cross the road at crossing points/junctions with traffic lights, signals or robots*

1-4

0.68 (0.61, 0.73)

1.93

1.14

E9. In my neighborhood there are busy roads that are dangerous to cross*

1-4

0.60 (0.52, 0.67)

2.58

1.19

E10. There are informal places for people to walk in my neighborhood**

1-4

0.60 (0.52, 0.67)

2.69

1.13

E11. The walk/foot paths in my neighborhood are generally of good quality…**

1-4

0.60 (0.53, 0.67)

2.13

1.14

E12. There are designated or marked places to bicycle…*

1-4

0.60 (0.52, 0.67)

1.60

0.99

Sidewalk scale – mean of items 1-5

1-4

0.76 (0.71, 0.80)

1.90

0.73

Crossing scale – mean of items 6-9

1-4

0.70 (0.64, 0.75)

1.96

0.67

Path infrastructure scale – mean of items 10-11

1-4

0.60 (0.52, 0.67)

2.41

0.88

Places for walking, cycling, and playing overall scale – mean of all items in Section E

1.08 – 3.92

0.80 (0.75, 0.83)

1.98

0.56

F. Neighborhood Surroundings

F1. There are trees along the roads in my neighborhood

1-4

0.74 (0.68, 0.78)

2.34

1.24

F2. My neighborhood is clean and free of litter, garbage or stagnant water*

1-4

0.68 (0.61, 0.73)

2.60

1.10

F3. My neighborhood is free from bad smells and odors**

1-4

0.60 (0.52, 0.67)

2.77

1.10

F4. There are beautiful natural sights/ views in my neighborhood

1-4

0.75 (0.70, 0.80)

2.47

1.12

F5. There are attractive buildings/ houses in my neighborhood

1-4

0.74 (0.69, 0.79)

2.82

1.02

F6. My neighborhood is generally free of unpleasant noises like highways, factories, trains, bars…**

1-4

0.62 (0.54, 0.69)

2.80

1.12

F7. My neighborhood is generally free of noticeable pollution and dust, such as from traffic or factories*

1-4

0.63 (0.56, 0.69)

2.75

1.05

F8. There are many pleasant natural sounds in my neighborhood such as from birds**

1-4

0.67 (0.60, 0.73)

2.66

1.06

Neighborhood surroundings scale - mean of items 1-8

1-4

0.78 (0.73, 0.82)

2.65

0.66

G. Safety from Traffic

G1. There is so much traffic along nearby roads that it is difficult or unpleasant to walk or play in my neighborhood

1-4

0.67 (0.60, 0.73)

2.68

1.09

G2. The speed of traffic on most nearby roads in my neighborhood is usually slow

1-4

0.63 (0.55, 0.69)

2.65

1.06

G3. Most drivers exceed the speed limits in my neighborhood

1-4

0.62 (0.55, 0.69)

2.54

1.09

G4. Walking or playing is dangerous in my neighborhood because of careless or aggressive driving**

1-4

0.66 (0.59, 0.72)

2.69

1.06

G5. It could be dangerous to ride a bicycle in or near my neighborhood because of speed of traffic*

1-4

0.70 (0.64, 0.75)

2.93

1.13

G6. I am worried about playing or walking in my neighborhood and local streets because I am afraid of being injured by a car*

1-4

0.77 (0.68, 0.83)

2.09

1.09

Traffic scale - mean of items G1-5 and PC4

1-4

0.75 (0.70, 0.80)

2.65

0.68

H. Safety from Crime

H1. There is a lot of crime in my neighborhood.

1-4

0.79 (0.73, 0.83)

2.89

1.07

H2. There is too much crime in my neighborhood to go outside for walks or play during the day.

1-4

0.71 (0.65, 0.76)

3.37

0.84

H3. There is too much crime in my neighborhood to go outside for walks or play at night.

1-4

0.79 (0.74, 0.82)

2.95

1.06

H4. There are groups of people or gangs in my neighborhood who make me feel threatened when I go out.**

1-4

0.73 (0.67, 0.78)

3.04

1.06

Crime scale - Mean of items 1-4 after reverse coding

1-4

0.82 (0.78, 0.86)

3.06

0.82

I. Personal Safety

I1. I see and can talk to people when I am walking in my neighborhood.*

1-4

0.63 (0.55, 0.69)

3.27

0.89

I2. There are stray dogs or dangerous animals that scare me in my neighborhood.**

1-4

0.68 (0.61, 0.74)

2.77

1.15

I3. The roads in my neighborhood are well lit at night.

1-4

0.70 (0.64, 0.75)

2.33

1.19

Personal Safety Scale - Mean of I1-2 and E9

1-4

0.67 (0.60, 0.73)

2.80

0.61

J. Stranger Danger

PC1. I am worried about my child playing or being outside alone or with friends around my house (e.g. yard, driveway, apartment common area), because I am afraid of them being taken or hurt by a stranger.*

1-4

0.73 (0.65, 0.80)

2.34

1.13

PC2. I am worried about my child playing or walking alone or with friends in my neighborhood and local streets because I am afraid of them being taken or hurt by a stranger.*

1-4

0.77 (0.69, 0.83)

2.24

1.16

PC3. I am worried about my child being alone or with friends in a local or nearby park because I am afraid of them being taken or hurt by a stranger*

1-4

0.78 (0.70, 0.84)

2.30

1.13

Stranger Danger Scale - Mean of parent-reported Items 1-3

1-4

0.79 (0.72, 0.84)

2.29

1.03