Browsing by Author "Wachira, Lucy-Joy M."
Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Associations between Parental Perceptions of the Neighbourhood Environment and Childhood Physical Activity: Results from ISCOLE-Kenya(Human Kinetics, 2015) Muthuri, Stella K.; Wachira, Lucy-Joy M.; Onywera, V.O.; Tremblay, Mark S.BACKGROUND: A physical activity transition to declining activity levels, even among children, now poses a serious public health concern due to its contribution to a rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Childhood physical activity levels are associated with parental perceptions of the neighborhood; however, these relationships have not been explored in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The objective was to investigate relationships between parental perceptions of the neighbourhood, and physical activity indicators among Kenyan children. METHODS: Data were collected from children 9-11 years in Nairobi as part of the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and Environment. Child physical activity was assessed by accelerometry, and information on obtaining sufficient physical activity, active transport, and parental perceptions of the neighborhood collected using questionnaires. RESULTS: Of 563 participating children, 45.7%, 12.6%, and 11.4% used active school transportation, met physical activity guidelines, and were sufficiently active respectively. Parental perception of positive neighbourhood social cohesion, positive environs and connectivity, and negative child safety concerns, were associated with child physical activity outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Aspects of parental perceptions of the neighbourhood were associated with child physical activity outcomes, and should be further explored to appropriately inform policy and practice in curbing declining physical activity levels among children in SSAItem Kenya’s 2016 Report Card on the Physical Activity and Body Weight of Children and Youth(Healthy Active Kids Kenya, 2016) Onywera, Vincent O.; Muthuri, Stella K.; Wachira, Lucy-Joy M.; Kyallo, Florence; Mang’eni, Robert Ojiambo; Bukhala, Peter; Hayker, Sylvester; Amile, EverlyneItem Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of accelerometer measured physical activity levels of school-going children in Kampala city, Uganda(PloseOne, 2020) Nakabazzi, Bernadette; Wachira, Lucy-Joy M.; Oyeyemi, Adewale L.; Ssenyonga, Ronald; Onywera, Vincent O.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.Item Results From Kenya’s 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth(Human Kinetics, 2016) Onywera, V.O.; Muthuri, S.K.; Hayker, S.; Wachira, Lucy-Joy M.; Kyallo, F.; Mang’eni, R.O.; Bukhala, P.; Mireri, C.Background: Kenya’s 2016 report card aimed to highlight the health and well-being of Kenyan children and youth using the best available evidence on the physical activity of Kenyan children and youth. The report pointed at areas where Kenya was succeeding and areas where more action is required. Methods: Inclusive analyses of available data sources on the core indicators related to physical activity and body weights of Kenyan children and youth (5 to 17 years) were conducted. These were assigned grades based on a set of specific criteria. Results: Results show that Active Play, Active Transportation, Overweight and Obesity, and Sedentary Behavior were favorable with a grade of B. Overall Physical Activity, Organized Sport Participation, and School (infrastructure, policies, and programs) each received a grade of C, while Family and Peers, Government and Nongovernment organizations, as well as the Community and the Built Environment were assigned grade D. Conclusions: Over 72% of Kenyan children and youth use active transportation to and from school and in their daily lives. Although majority of the children and youth have normal body weight, there is need to ensure that they meet and maintain the physical activity levels recommended by the World Health Organization. More needs to be done especially in relation to the governmental and nongovernmental organizations, organized sports participation, as well as involvement of family and peers in promoting healthy active lifestyles among Kenyan children and youth. More representative data for all indicators are required in KenyaItem Screen-based sedentary behaviour and adiposity among school children: Results from International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE) - Kenya(Public Library of Science, 2018) Wachira, Lucy-Joy M.; Muthuri, Stella K.; Ochola, Sophie A.; Onywera, Vincent O.; Tremblay, Mark S.Background High levels of sedentary behaviours have been independently associated with several negative health indicators, including obesity. Screen time (ST) is often used as a contributing measure of sedentary time. It is recommended that children spend no more than 2 hours on recreational sedentary screen-based activities daily. We describe screen-based sedentary time of urban school children and examine the associations between body mass index (BMI) and percent Body Fat (%BF) with ST levels. Methods Data were collected from 563 children aged 9 to 11 years attending 29 non-boarding primary schools in Nairobi, Kenya, as part of the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE). Data were analysed to test for associations between ST and sex, type of school attended (public verses private), Socioeconomic status, adiposity, and access to electronic devices. We also assessed participants' ST on school and weekend days. Results Of the participants recruited, 15.5% had high ST levels, 67.9% spent no more than 2 hours in recreational screen activities on school days while 74.2% did not meet the guidelines on weekend days. Participants sex was associated with daily ST (t = 3.5, p<0.001), ST on the weekend (t = 3.9, p <0.001) and total ST per week (t = 3.5, p<0.001) with males having higher ST than females. ST was associated with type of school for daily ST (t = 3.6, p<0.001), ST on the weekend (t = 4.5, p<0.001) and total ST per week (t = 3.6, p<0.001) where private schools pupils had higher ST. ST was not associated with BMI. ST was not associated with %BF except on weekend days (p = 0.038) where those classified as overfat/ obese (fat) had higher ST. Conclusions A large proportion of children spend more time than recommended on screen activities particularly on weekend days. Strategies to improve healthy living should focus on the reduction of sedentary ST for school-aged children.Item Screen-based sedentary behaviour and adiposity among school children: Results from International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE) - Kenya(Public Library of Science, 2018-06) Wachira, Lucy-Joy M.; Muthuri, Stella K.; Ochola, Sophie A.; Onywera, Vincent O.; Tremblay, Mark S.