Physical Activity Level among School Going Children in Surat City, Gujarat: A Cross Sectional Survey - Open Journal Systems
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730 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, July 2020, Vol. 11, No. 7
Physical Activity Level among School Going Children in Surat
City, Gujarat: A Cross Sectional Survey
Salvi Shah1, Shraddha Diwan2
1
Ph.D. Schola,r (Gujarat University, Ahmedabad), Assistant professor, SPB Physiotherapy, College, Surat, India,
2
Ph. D. Guide (Gujarat University, Ahmedabad), Lecturer, SBB Physiotherapy College, V.S.hospital,
Ahmedabad, India
Abstract
Background: Physical inactivity in children and adolescents is a major issue in public health. Physical
activity (PA) is a best predictor of cardiovascular, skeletal, and mental health in children and adolescents,
yet contemporary youth, and especially girls, are often insufficiently active. However, PA levels in children
of Surat city, Gujarat has been less explored. So present study was undertaken. Methodology: A Cross-
sectional survey was conducted on 82 children from 3 different schools of Surat city using self -reported
PAQ-C (Physical Activity Questionnaire -Children) in last seven days to measure PA after obtaining
permission from school authorities. Anthropometric measures and self-reported socio-demographic data
were also recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to depict the characteristics of the study population and
PA levels. Results: Mean PA level amongst children was 2.55 (SD=0.60). PA level in girls (2.24, SD=0.73)
was significantly lower than in males (2.67, SD=0.67), (pIndian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, July 2020, Vol. 11, No. 7 731
of PA in school-aged children and identified several disorder, neurophysiological disorder, musculoskeletal
key health benefits associated with increased PA like disorder, any other known medical/systemic condition,
decreased cholesterol, decreased depression, increased on any regular medication, absent on day of survey and
bone density, decreased obesity, decreased blood the one diagnosed with any physical problem in annual
pressure, decreased injury and metabolic syndrome. physical examination conducted by school authorities
were excluded. After that assent form from children
Role of school is very important as a key setting for
and consent form from parents/guardians eligible
the promotion of PA to young people. Though school
children were obtained. From the eligible children
provides an important context for promoting PA in
and their parents/guardian, necessary information for
children, physical education class may provide only a
demographic data were recorded and the anthropometric
limited contribution to National PA recommendation.12
measurements were taken and BMI (Body mass index)
PA level in children is reduced because of change in
was calculated as weight (kg) divided by height (m)
lifestyle like watching television, playing games on
squared.
computer or mobile for long hours, change in eating
habits and various other reasons. Children usually do not PA measurement:
compensate for PA after school and PA opportunities
PA was measured with the use of PAQ-C Gujarati
are restricted during the school day so additional school
version (PAQ-C G)). The PAQ-C (G) includes nine
based programme other than physical education classes
items, each scored on a 5-point scale. The last question
are needed.
asks students about their health. This question was not
Therefore understanding the interplay of children’s used to score the PA level but used to present reasons
levels of PA is important. Literature showed decline in for not participating in PA. Composite score of nine
PA levels in children and adolescent.8,13-15 There were items was taken and PA of each participant was rated
few attempts to measure PA in children and adolescents by taking mean of those nine items’ score which would
across different regions of India with varied tools.16-20 range from one to five with a higher value indicative of
The PA levels in children of Gujarat have not been a higher activity level.
adequately studied. Identifying patterns of PA behaviour
Face content validity and test retest reliability of
in children population will help to improve interventions
PAQ-C (G) were established before the commencement
to become and stay active into adolescent and adulthood.
of the present study. PAQ-C (G) has good face-content
So the study was conducted to assess the current status
validity and reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient
of PA in children of Surat city , Gujarat.
(ICC) for total score of PAQ-C (G): 0.82, for the
Methodology individual items ICC ranged from 0.78 to 0.91 and α
= 0.94 and α = 0.92 for assessments one and two (one
Before commencement of the study, the study was
week apart).21
approved by the institutional ethical committee of SPB
physiotherapy college, with Reg. no. EC/SPB/011. Purpose and procedure of study along with necessary
The study is registered under the clinical trial registry instructions to fill up PAQ-C (G) were explained to the
of India with registration no. CTRI/2018/12/016800. children and all of the questions were read out loud
A comprehensive description of the nature, purpose and any questions if they had were answered.15 to 20
and procedure of the study was explained to the school minutes were given to fill up the questionnaire in the
authorities in their vernacular language. After obtaining classroom. Score ≥3 was classified to be active while
permission from school authorities, a cross sectional score732 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, July 2020, Vol. 11, No. 7
PA Level (Graph I and Graph II) a Spearman’s correlation coefficient of 0.67(pIndian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, July 2020, Vol. 11, No. 7 733
Graph III: Correlation of PA with Age among all the students (n=82)
Discussion Available Indian research supports the finding of
the present study. In Anand, A study13 using PAQ-C
Results of the present study showed low PA
to measure PA on school children(10-19 years,
among school children. Mean± SD score of PA was
n=3337),concluded inadequate PA among school
2.55±0.60 for PAQ-C and 82% of children fall in low
children with significantly higher PA in males as
PA group. These findings are in consistent with previous
compared to females .A study conducted by Rashmi
studies.8,13,23,24
Ronghe et al14 in Nagpur suggested that more children
A study done by Rashmi Ronghe et al14 and Hemal should be engaged in PA which will help in reducing
Dave et al13 used a PAQ-C to measure PA and rest of the health risks. Achal Gulati et al8 conducted study
studies used a different methodology to find out a PA among the 1,680 children(3-11 years) from different
but showed a similar findings of decline in PA among cities of India and found that 21 % of the children were
school children. A longitudinal study done by Philip inactive, 18 % exercised at least 1 time per week and 21
R. Nader23 et al on 1032 participants from age 9to % between 2 and 3 times weekly. Significant difference
14 years using accelerometer and found a significant was noted for the prevalence of physical inactivity by
decrease in PA over a time with boys found to be more town ,with highest percentages in Chennai (29 %) and
active compared to girls. In African setting, Similar lowest in Hyderabad (4%).
study done24 on 172 children/adolescents from Moroco
The result of the present study (mean score of
using accelerometer to measure PA and suggested that
PAQ-C 2.55) was not consistent with the reported PA
children and adolescents spent more time in sedentary
of other countries. Mean score of PAQ-C was 3.16,
activity during weekdays versus weekends with amount
3.36, 3.37, 3.19, 3.49, 3.36 and 2.62 for the Turkish25,
of time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity
European and African American26 ,Hispanic26, British27
(MVPA) was higher among boys than girls. 38.8% of
and Chinese28 children respectively. More practice of the
the children and adolescents met the recommendation of
sports culture, knowledge and awareness for importance
≥ 60 (min/day) of MVPA.
of PA among the parents and believing in overall growth
of child rather than only academic growth were the734 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, July 2020, Vol. 11, No. 7
probable factors for the result leads to higher level of PA benefits regarding PA should be increased in children,
among the children other than India. parents and in their schools. Increase in duration of the
PE class in the school, engaging children in one of the
In line with the present study, several other
PA at least 3 times per week and encouraging girl child
studies8,13,14,23,24 have also found less PA among girls
to participate in sports should be emphasized to reduce
compared to males. The probable reasons for this
the health risks.
finding were due to the weakest participation of girls in
organized sport. School environment, more preference Funding: Self
of girls for indoor games and television viewing, social
Conflict of Interest: None
stigma of female sports activities, Biological reasons,
availability and accessibility of playgrounds to especially
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