Características da infraestrutura da escola e prática de atividade física em escolares de João Pessoa

Abstract

Physical inactivity is a worrying factor for teenagers in the entire world population. Having qualified spaces and materials for physical activity is important for the health of adolescents, as a way to increase physical activity, especially in the school context. The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between the characteristics of school infrastructure for physical activity and the level of physical activity in students of João Pessoa. This is a cross-sectional epidemiological study using data from PeNSE (2015 edition), collected between April and September 2015, of students enrolled in the 9th grade of elementary school. Sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity practice, characteristics of schools and infrastructure for physical activity were used. It was found that students who studied in schools that have courts, materials, locker room and internal games had greater participation in physical education classes and with a longer duration of these classes. The presence of court and locker room in conditions of use is associated with the accomplishment of at least 300 minutes of weekly physical activity of the students. It was concluded that the presence of court, materials for physical activity practice and locker room under conditions of use, as well as the presence of school actions for physical activity contributes to higher levels of physical activity of schoolchildren.