Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of accelerometer measured physical activity levels of school-going children in Kampala city, Uganda
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Date
2020
Authors
Nakabazzi, Bernadette
Wachira, Lucy-Joy M.
Oyeyemi, Adewale L.
Ssenyonga, Ronald
Onywera, Vincent O.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PloseOne
Abstract
The current international physical activity guidelines for health recommend children to engage
in at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) daily. Yet, accurate
prevalence estimates of physical activity levels of children are unavailable in many African
countries due to the dearth of accelerometer-measured physical activity data. The aim of this
study was to describe the prevalence and examine the socio-demographic correlates of accelerometer-
measured physical activity among school-going children in Kampala city, Uganda.
Methods
A cross-sectional study design was used to recruit a sample of 10–12 years old schoolgoing
children (n = 256) from 7 primary schools (3 public schools and 4 private schools) in
Kampala city, Uganda. Sedentary time, light-intensity physical activity (LPA), moderateintensity
physical activity (MPA) and vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA) were measured
by accelerometers (ActiGraph GT3X+ [Pensacola, Florida, USA]) over a seven-day
period. Socio-demographic factors were assessed by a parent/guardian questionnaire.
Weight status was generated from objectively measured height and weight and computed
as body mass index (BMI). Multi-level logistic regressions identified socio-demographic factors
that were associated with meeting physical activity guidelines.
Results
Children’s sedentary time was 9.8±2.1 hours/day and MVPA was 56±25.7 minutes/day.
Only 36.3% of the children (38.9% boys, 34.3% girls) met the physical activity guidelines.
Boys, thin/normal weight and public school children had significantly higher mean daily
MVPA levels. Socio-demographic factors associated with odds of meeting physical activityguidelines were younger age (OR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.55–0.84), thin/normal weight status
(OR = 4.08; 95% CI = 1.42–11.76), and socioeconomic status (SES) indicators such as
lower maternal level of education (OR = 2.43; 95% CI = 1.84–3.21) and no family car (OR =
0.31; 95% CI = 0.17–0.55).
Conclusion
Children spent a substantial amount of time sedentary and in LPA and less time in MVPA.
Few children met the physical activity guidelines. Lower weight status, lower maternal education
level and no family car were associated with meeting physical activity guidelines.
Effective interventions and policies to increase physical activity among school-going children
in Kampala, are urgently needed.
Description
A research article published in PloseOne
Keywords
physical activity, Kampala, Uganda
Citation
Nakabazzi B, Wachira L-JM, Oyeyemi AL, Ssenyonga R, Onywera VO (2020) Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of accelerometer measured physical activity levels of school-going children in Kampala city, Uganda. PLoS ONE 15(7): e0235211. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0235211