scholarly journals Qualitative views of Nigerian school principals and teachers on the barriers and opportunities for promoting students’ physical activity behaviours within the school settings

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mojisola Morenike Oluwasanu ◽  
Oladimeji Oladepo ◽  
Segun Emmanuel Ibitoye

Abstract Background Insufficient physical activity (PA) is a growing public health challenge among Nigerian adolescents. Significant information gap exists on the school-related factors which influence the participation of adolescents in school-based physical activity programmes in Nigeria. This study was conducted to document the qualitative views of school principals and teachers on the barriers and opportunities for promoting the physical activity behaviours of adolescents within the school settings in light of the socio-ecological model. Methods This was a qualitative study conducted in 12 public and private schools in two local government areas of Oyo state, Nigeria. Two key sources and data collection methods (i.e key informant interviews and focus group discussions) were used. Six key informant interviews were held with school principals and six focus group discussions with classroom teachers using pre-tested guides. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results Fourteen sub-themes were identified as barriers to PA and linked to different levels of the socio-ecological model. Three themes were categorised as parental factors, three themes as socio-cultural and religious factors while the school-related factors had eight sub-themes. Specifically, the school-related barriers were the declining number of trained physical health education teachers, limited opportunities for continuing education and low prioritisation of physical health education. Other school-related factors such as increasing demand for classroom academic time, negative attitudinal dispositions of other teachers and inadequate funding for schools which hampered the provision of facilities and equipment were identified as factors that limit the effective implementation of policies and programmes for physical activity in schools. Opportunities to promote PA within the school settings during assemblies, breaktime, after-school and inter-house sports competition exist. However, these opportunities are hampered by competing academic time, security threats, fear of causalities to students due to poor supervision after school, poor funding and brawling associated with competitive school-based sporting events. Conclusions Factors that contribute to insufficient physical activity among in-school adolescents in the school settings are multi-factorial. Implementation of holistic, multi-component interventions which address the social-cultural and school-level factors and enhance students’ opportunities for physical activity in schools are recommended.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mojisola Oluwasanu ◽  
Oladimeji Oladepo ◽  
Segun Emmanuel Ibitoye

Abstract Background: Insufficient physical activity is a growing public health challenge among Nigerian adolescents. Significant information gap exists on the school-related factors and its implication on the school-based physical activity participation of adolescents in Nigeria. This study was conducted to document the qualitative views of school principals and teachers on the barriers and opportunities for promoting the physical activity behaviours of adolescents within the school settings in light of the socio-ecological model.Methods: This was a qualitative study conducted in 12 public and private schools in two local government areas of Oyo state, Nigeria. Two key sources and data collection methods (i.e key informant interviews and focus group discussions) were used. Six key informant interviews were held with school principals and six focus group discussions with classroom teachers using pre-tested guides. Data was analysed using thematic analysis.Results: Fourteen sub-themes were identified as barriers to PA and linked to different levels of the socio-ecological model. Three themes were categorized as parental factors, three themes as socio-cultural and religious factors while the school-related factors had eight sub-themes. Specifically, the school related barriers were the declining number of trained physical health education teachers, limited opportunities for continuing education and low prioritisation of physical health education. Other school-related factors such as increasing demand for classroom academic time, negative attitudinal dispositions of other teachers and inadequate funding for schools which hampered the provision of facilities and equipment were identified as factors that limit the effective implementation of policies and programs for physical activity in schools. Opportunities to promote PA within the school settings during assemblies, breaktime, after-school and inter house sports competition exists. However; these opportunities are hampered by competing academic time, security threats, fear of causalities to students due to poor supervision after school, poor funding and brawling associated with competitive school-based sporting events. Conclusions: Factors that contribute to insufficient physical activity among in-school adolescents in the school settings are multifactorial. Implementation of holistic, multi-component interventions which address the social-cultural and school-level factors and enhance students’ opportunities for physical activity in schools are recommended.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mojisola Oluwasanu ◽  
Oladimeji Oladepo ◽  
Segun Emmanuel Ibitoye

Abstract Background: Insufficient physical activity is a growing public health challenge among Nigerian adolescents. Significant information gap exists on the school-related factors and its implication on the school-based physical activity participation of adolescents in Nigeria. This study was conducted to document the qualitative views of school principals and teachers on the barriers and opportunities for promoting the physical activity behaviours of adolescents within the school settings in light of the socio-ecological model. Methods: This was a qualitative study conducted in 12 public and private schools in two local government areas of Oyo state, Nigeria. Two key sources and data collection methods (i.e key informant interviews and focus group discussions) were used. Six key informant interviews were held with school principals and six focus group discussions with classroom teachers using pre-tested guides. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Fourteen sub-themes were identified as barriers to PA and linked to different levels of the socio-ecological model. Three themes were categorized as parental factors, three themes as socio-cultural and religious factors while the school-related factors had eight sub-themes. Specifically, the school related barriers were the declining number of trained physical health education teachers, limited opportunities for continuing education and low prioritisation of physical health education. Other school-related factors such as increasing demand for classroom academic time, negative attitudinal dispositions of other teachers and inadequate funding for schools which hampered the provision of facilities and equipment were identified as factors that limit the effective implementation of policies and programs for physical activity in schools. Opportunities to promote PA within the school settings during assemblies, breaktime, after-school and inter house sports competition exists. However; these opportunities are hampered by competing academic time, security threats, fear of causalities to students due to poor supervision after school, poor funding and brawling associated with competitive school-based sporting events. Conclusions: Factors that contribute to insufficient physical activity among in-school adolescents in the school settings are multifactorial. Implementation of holistic, multi-component interventions which address the social-cultural and school-level factors and enhance students’ opportunities for physical activity in schools are recommended.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mojisola Oluwasanu ◽  
Oladimeji Oladepo ◽  
Segun Emmanuel Ibitoye

Abstract Background: Insufficient physical activity is a growing public health challenge among Nigerian adolescents. Significant information gap exists on the drivers of the physical activity behaviours of in-school adolescents in Nigeria. This study was conducted to identify the factors influencing the physical activity behaviours of in-school adolescents within the school settings. Methods: This was a qualitative study conducted in 12 public and private schools in two local government areas of Oyo state, Nigeria. Two key sources of data were used: six key informant interviews with school principals and six focus group discussions with classroom teachers using pre-tested guides. Data was analysed using thematic analysis.Results: Several factors influence the physical activity behaviours of adolescents. Personal characteristics such as adolescents’ sex and age and social factors such as norms associated with gender participation in sports, cultural and religious views influenced the physical activity behaviours of the adolescents. The negative attitudinal dispositions of parents and teachers and low prioritisation of physical education were identified as critical barriers to physical activity participation. Other school-related factors such as increasing demand for classroom academic time, inadequate funding for schools which limits the recruitment of physical health education teachers, provision of facilities and equipment as well as security threats and brawling associated with competitive school-based sporting events were identified also as limiting opportunities for the effective implementation of policies and programmes for physical activity in schools.Conclusions: Drivers of insufficient physical activity among in-school adolescents are multifactorial. Implementation of holistic, multi-component interventions which address the individual, parental, social and school-level factors and limit students’ participation and opportunities for physical activity in schools are recommended.


2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Megan Stanley ◽  
Kobie Boshoff ◽  
James Dollman

Background:The after-school period is potentially a “critical window” for promoting physical activity in children. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore children’s perceptions of the factors influencing their engagement in physical activity during the after-school period as the first phase in the development of a questionnaire.Methods:Fifty-four South Australian children age 10−13 years participated in same gender focus groups. Transcripts, field notes, and activity documents were analyzed using content analysis. Through an inductive thematic approach, data were coded and categorized into perceived barriers and facilitators according to a social ecological model.Results:Children identified a number of factors, including safety in the neighborhood and home settings, distance to and from places, weather, availability of time, perceived competence, enjoyment of physical activity, peer influence, and parent influence. New insights into bullying and teasing by peers and fear of dangerous animals and objects were revealed by the children.Conclusions:In this study, hearing children’s voices allowed the emergence of factors which may not be exposed using existing surveys. These findings are grounded in children’s perceptions and therefore serve as a valuable contribution to the existing literature, potentially leading to improved intervention and questionnaire design.


2018 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bimala Sharma ◽  
Rosemary Cosme Chavez ◽  
Eun Woo Eun Woo Nam

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and correlates of insufficient physical activity in adolescents in Peru. METHODS: We used a self-administered questionnaire developed from Global school-based Student Health Survey to collect information from secondary school students in North Lima and Callao in 2015. We carried out Poisson regression with robust variance using generalized linear models to estimate the crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) of insufficient physical activity for its correlates. RESULTS: We have found that 78% of the adolescents did not meet the global recommendation of the World Health Organization on physical activity in the last week before the survey. Female respondents (APR = 1.13, 95%CI 1.04–1.21), respondents who perceived themselves as overweight (APR = 1.10, 95%CI 1.03–1.18), and respondents who consumed insufficient vegetables and fruits [no vegetables (APR = 1.30, 95%CI 1.06–1.59), no fruits (APR = 1.15, 95%CI 1.00–1.31) as compared to those who consumed ≥ 2 servings every day in the last seven days] were more likely to report insufficient physical activity. Adolescents who worked after school (APR = 0.92, 95%CI 0.84–0.99), had physical education classes five times per week (APR = 0.94, 95%CI 0.88–0.99), and had parental supervision (APR = 0.92, 95%CI 0.87–0.98) were less likely to report insufficient physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Sex, work after school, perceived body weight, physical education class, parental support, and healthy dietary behaviors were associated with insufficient physical activity. Attempts to improve physical activity should look for ways to enhance leisure-time physical activity, parental support, physical education classes, healthy dietary behaviors, and normal body weight maintenance in adolescents with integrated efforts from the family and school.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirin Seyedhamzeh ◽  
Saharnaz Nedjat ◽  
Elham Shakibazadeh ◽  
Hedayat Hosseini ◽  
Azam Doustmohammadian ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Unhealthy diets and inadequate physical activity are important factors in the increasing trend of obesity. In order to mitigate this harmful trend, an effective policy must be developed to target both unhealthy diets and insufficient physical activity. The implementation of physical activity recommendations in nutrition labeling may influence the consumers’ food choices. In this qualitative study, we designed a new type of physical activity calorie equivalent (PACE) label by considering the viewpoints of household representatives and experts. Method Ten focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 63 mothers from different regions of Tehran based on the participants’ socioeconomic status. Furthermore, ten interviews were conducted with food quality control (FQC) experts to examine the new PACE label. The preliminary designs were based on the mothers’ viewpoints. We then presented these new labels to the nutritionists and food industry experts in two separate FGDs. After taking their opinions into consideration, we applied certain changes to the labels and emailed them to the mothers. Consequently, the final versions of the new labels were designed. Conventional content analysis was applied with the MAXQDA10 software. Result Two main themes were defined: (1) the stakeholders’ perspectives on PACE labeling (2) the new PACE label’s characteristics including the appearance and the nutritional information on the new label. Conclusion The new label is a combination of the physical activity, traffic light and warning labels.


2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 911-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Gottschalk ◽  
Hans-Helmut König ◽  
Christian Brettschneider

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to compare informal caregivers/dementia caregivers to non-caregivers regarding alcohol consumption, smoking behavior, obesity, and insufficient physical activity and to identify caregiving-related factors (caregiving intensity, length of caregiving, relationship to the care recipient, and type of caregiving task) which are associated with behavioral risk factors in caregivers/dementia caregivers. Methods Using cross-sectional data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we performed the statistical analyses applying logistic regression models and accounted for confounding using the entropy balancing approach. Results For caregivers (n = 12,044), the odds of overweight/obesity and smoking were higher (OR = 1.14/1.34, p < 0.05) and the odds of binge drinking and insufficient physical activity were lower (OR = 0.86/0.83, p < 0.05) than for non-caregivers (n = 45,925). For dementia caregivers, results point in the same direction. Caregiving-related variables tend to influence the likelihood of behavioral risk factors, but depending on the kind of factor considered, in different directions. Conclusions Being a caregiver is associated with risky and health-promoting behavior. However, the effects are relatively low. Future studies should study potential pathways between caregiving characteristics, psychological impacts of caregiving, health behavior, and mental or physical health.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingzhou Wang ◽  
Toshiro Sato ◽  
Atsushi Sakuraba

AbstractBackgroundSeveral lifestyle related factors such as obesity and diabetes have been identified as risk factors for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortality. The objective of this study was to examine the global association between lifestyle related factors and COVID-19 mortality using data from each individual country.MethodsThe association between prevalence of seven lifestyle related factors (overweight, insufficient physical activity, smoking, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and age over 65) and COVID-19 mortality was assessed by linear and multivariable regression among 186 countries. The cumulative effect of lifestyle related factors on COVID-19 mortality was assessed by dividing countries into four categories according to the number of lifestyle related factors in the upper half range and comparing the mean mortality between groups.ResultsIn linear regression, COVID-19 mortality was significantly associated with overweight, insufficient physical activity, hyperlipidemia, and age ≥65. In multivariable regression, overweight and age ≥65 demonstrated significant association with COVID-19 mortality (P = 0.0039, 0.0094). Countries with more risk factors demonstrated greater COVID-19 mortality (P for trend <0.001).ConclusionLifestyle related factors, especially overweight and elderly population, were associated with increased COVID-19 mortality on a global scale. Global effort to reduce burden of lifestyle related factors along with protection and vaccination of these susceptible groups may help reduce COVID-19 mortality.


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (s1) ◽  
pp. S40-S48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey Cox ◽  
Victoria Berends ◽  
James F. Sallis ◽  
Jessica Marie St. John ◽  
Betsy McNeil ◽  
...  

Background:Most youth are not meeting physical activity guidelines, and schools are a key venue for providing physical activity. School districts can provide physical activity opportunities through the adoption, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of policies. This paper reports results of a 2009 survey of California school governance leaders on the barriers and opportunities to providing school-based physical activity and strategies to promote adoption of evidence-based policies.Methods:California school board members (n = 339) completed an 83 item online survey about policy options, perceptions, and barriers to improving physical activity in schools.Results:Board members’ highest rated barriers to providing physical activity were budget concerns, limited time in a school day, and competing priorities. The key policy opportunities to increase physical activity were improving the quantity and quality of physical education, integrating physical activity throughout the school day, supporting active transportation to/from school, providing access to physical activity facilities during nonschool hours, and integrating physical activity into before/after school programs.Conclusions:Survey findings were used to develop policy resources and trainings for school governance leaders that provide a comprehensive approach to improving physical activity in schools.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azam Baheiraei ◽  
Zeinab Hamzehgardeshi ◽  
Mohammad Reza Mohammadi ◽  
Eesa Mohammadi ◽  
Saharnaz Nedjat

Abstract Background: Adolescents’ physical activity decreases from the stage of childhood to adulthood. This study was addressed to explain adolescents’ insufficient physical activity (IPA) and its related factors. The subjects were 1201 adolescents in the quantitative phase and 25 adolescents in the quantitative phase. Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed methods design with follow-up explanations variant was used, which involved collecting quantitative data (1201 adolescents) first and then explaining the quantitative results with in-depth interviews and written narrative (25 adolescents) during a qualitative study. Results: The quantitative results showed that 98.8% of adolescents did not have the recommended physical activity. Five themes were extracted in the qualitative phase including the inhibitory effect of the school environment and peers, as well as the inhibitory effect of the family environment, lack of availability and cultural barriers for the presence of girls in the community, the effect of self-feeling and self-understanding, and physical and mental exhaustion and permutation. According to the qualitative findings of the study, physical and mental exhaustion expressed the fact that, although adolescents had an unfavorable sense of IPA, they were under the effects of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Conclusion: The comparison of these themes indicates that this behavior is imposable but not optional.


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