Promoting physical activity: a low cost intervention programme for disadvantaged schools in Port Elizabeth, South Africa: physical activity

Physical activity guidelines recommend that children accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) daily. In South Africa; children from historically black communities and schools; previously disadvantaged by apartheid; have limited physical activity opportunities due to the marginalization of physical education in the school curriculum; inadequate extra-curricula and community sports provision and the paucity or poor standard of available facilities and equipment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a 6-week low-cost in-school intervention in promoting MVPA at three disadvantaged primary schools in Port Elizabeth; South Africa. The intervention was designed to stimulate free play in children. An experimental design involving quantitative and qualitative methods was used to evaluate the effect of the intervention. A total of 79 learners (ages 9 to 12; from Grades 3 to 6) and 9 teachers from three disadvantaged schools participated in the study. In-school physical activity was measured using ActiGraph accelerometers which were worn for 5 consecutive school days; pre- and 6-weeks post-intervention. Low-cost physical activity-friendly environments which included multicolour playground markings for games (hopscotch; 2-square and 4- square; mazes; and some traditional games); playground stations (balance beams; monkey bars; pull-up bars; tyre stations; shooting hoops; mini-soccer posts) and small equipment (skipping ropes; tennis balls; frisbees; soccer balls; netballs and rugby balls) were installed at participating schools; in partnership with school communities. The intervention was found to be effective in increasing children's in-school MVPA in the short term; and provided data which could help to promote the provision of physical education in disadvantaged schools

The Physical Activity and Health Status of Two Generations of Black South African Professional Women

Increased health risks associated with physical inactivity in the Black population have been reported in recent years. Black women; suffering the highest levels of inactivity; overweight and obesity; are at greatest risk of developing chronic diseases of lifestyle. This explorative-descriptive study investigated the physical activity patterns and health status of two generations of Black professional women; reflecting pre-democracy and post-democracy age groups. Quantitative measures were used; including the ActiGraph GT1M accelerometer; the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile. Sample groups comprised teachers; nurses; social workers and public sector managers. Participants aged between 35 and 45 years were allocated to the older generation group (n = 111); whilst those aged between 18 and 21 years (students in the mentioned professional fields) were allocated to the younger generation group (n = 69). The results indicated that these women displayed lower levels of health-promoting behavioural practices than expected; significantly lower levels of physical activity and significantly higher levels of overweight and obesity than the South African norms. The observation that the younger group appeared to be replicating the patterns of the older women is a cause of concern. Greater compliance to health-promoting behaviours was expected in this group owing to participants' professional involvement in health; education and social development fields. Wide-ranging initiatives are necessary to promote physical activity and health amongst the Black female population in South Africa