Measuring physical activity in South African grade 2 and 3 learners : a self-report questionnaire versus pedometer testing

Abstract

The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing in South Africa and can be linked to decreased physical activity (PA). It is important to be able to accurately measure children’s PA levels as part of a holistic strategy for maintaining healthy body weight. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether children in grades two and three can self-report PA by means of a questionnaire. Fifty-eight participants (girls=28; boys=30) from a primary school in Gauteng were recruited for the study. The participants had to wear a pedometer (Omron HJ-720) for seven days after which they completed the Physical Activity Questionnaire for older Children (PAQ-C). The average steps per day were 9289, with weekday steps (10,219) being more than weekend steps (6,795). The mean score for the PAQ-C was 3.14±0.47. There was a significant moderate correlation (r=0.49; p<0.01) between the overall PAQ-C score and average steps per day. The PAQ-C can be an effective way to gain insight into the PA levels in children but should not replace objective measures of PA. The participants in this study appear to be accumulating insufficient PA over the course of the week.