Indicators of Physical Activity Among Children and Youth in 9 Countries With Low to Medium Human Development Indices: A Global Matrix 3.0 Paper
Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Physical Activity and Health
Abstract
ackground: This study compares results of physical activity report cards from 9 countries with low to medium human
development indices, participating in the Global Matrix 3.0 initiative. Methods: Country-specific report cards were informed by
relevant data and government policy documents, reporting on 10 core indicators of physical activity for children and youth. Data
were synthesized by report card working groups following a harmonized process. Grade assignments for each indicator utilized a
standard grading rubric. Indicators were grouped into one of 2 categories: daily behaviors and settings and sources of influence.
Descriptive statistics (average grades) were computed after letter grades were converted into interval variables. Spearman’s rank
correlation coefficients were calculated for all correlation analyses. Results: Mean grades for daily behaviors were higher (C)
than those for settings and sources of influence (D+). Twenty-nine out of the possible 90 grades were assigned an incomplete.
There were moderate to strong positive and negative relationships between different global indices and overall physical activity,
organized sport and physical activity, active play, family, community and environment, and government. Conclusions: Findings
demonstrate an urgent need for high-quality data at the country level in order to better characterize the physical activity levels of
children and youth in countries with low to medium human development indices.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
active living, daily physical activity behaviors