Physical activity and sedentary behavior among adolescents in rural South Africa: levels, patterns and correlates

BMC Public Health

Table 2 Physical activity parameters in 11–12 and 14–15 year old boys and girls

	11-12 years		14-15 years
	Boys (n = 98)	Girls (n = 97)	Boys (n = 91)	Girls (n = 95)
PE (Y,%)	56	65	63	67
PE (mins/wk)	30 (0–60)	30 (0–120)	30 (0–60)	40 (0–60)
Informal (mins/wk)	540 (280–1140)^d	570 (210–1020)^E	420 (175–840)^d	360 (130–570)^E
Sedentary (mins/wk)	1020 (690–1304)	840 (600–1380)^E	1035 (740–1440)	1200 (780–1604)^E
Walking to and from school (mins/wk)*	200 (100–300)	200 (100–300)	200 (100–300)	200 (100–300)
Moderate SS:
Y,%	39	60	38	51
mins/wk*	62.5 (24–96)	48 (24–135)	36 (24–90)	60 (30–101)
Vigorous SS:
Y,%	66	16	73	33
mins/wk*	72 (45–144)^b	24 (12–72)^b,E	81 (36–192)^B	36 (15–96)^B,E
Moderate CS:
Y,%	6	22	10	21
mins/wk*	57 (12–108)	72 (48–144)	60 (30–120)	66 (21–132)
Vigorous CS:
Y,%	56	7	69	20
mins/wk*	150 (96–360)^e	108 (45–216)	288 (90–540)^B,e	36 (20–75)^B
MVPA	251 (84–420)^c.d	60 (27–210)^c	360 (135–648)^C,d	81 (33–192)^C
(mins/wk)*	n = 86	n = 63	n = 83	n = 67

Data presented as median (interquartile range). Comparisons between sex and age groups were completed using ANOVA when data was normally distributed and Mann–Whitney U-test for non-normally distributed data. Y,%: percentage of participants who answered yes. *Data only for subjects who reported participating in these activities. SS: school sport; CS: club sport; MVPA: school and club moderate-vigorous physical activity. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 and ^cp < 0.001 for boys vs. girls in the 11-12-year age group; ^AP < 0.05, ^BP < 0.01 and ^Cp < 0.001 for boys vs. girls in the 14-15-year age group; ^dP < 0.05, ^eP < 0.01 and ^fp < 0.001 for differences between the age groups for boys; ^DP < 0.05, ^EP < 0.01 and ^Fp < 0.001 for differences between the age groups for girls.

ISSN: 1471-2458