Parental-perceived home and neighborhood environmental correlates of accelerometer-measured physical activity among school-going children in Uganda

• Published in: PLOS global public health 2021, Vol.1 (12), p.e0000089-e0000089
• Main Authors: Nakabazzi, Bernadette, Wachira, Lucy-Joy M, Oyeyemi, Adewale L, Ssenyonga, Ronald, Onywera, Vincent O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2767-3375; 2767-3375
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000089

The benefits of physical activity (PA) on children's health and well-being are well established. However, many children do not meet the PA recommendations, increasing their risk of being overweight, obese, and non-communicable diseases. Environmental characteristics of homes and neighborhoods may constrain a child's ability to engage in PA, but evidence is needed to inform country-specific interventions in understudied low-income countries. This study assessed the associations between parental-perceived home and neighbourhood, built environment characteristics, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among children in Kampala city, Uganda. In this cross-sectional study, data were obtained from 256 children (55.5% girls) aged between 10 and 12 years and their parents. Children's MVPA was measured using waist-worn ActiGraph accelerometers. The environments were assessed using a valid self-reported parent survey. Linear regression models with standard errors (clusters) were used to analyze the relationship between environmental variables and children's MVPA. Sex-specific relationships were assessed using sex-stratified models. Play equipment at home (β = -2.37, p