Assessment of extracurricular activities relating to physical activities in primary schools in Gwagwalada Area Council, federal capital territory, Nigeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Physical inactivity, a phenomenon that cuts across age groups, is increasingly becoming a menace among children globally. With a rise in the obesity rates among children in the last three decades, lack of physical activity is a cause for major concern among school-aged children.

AIM
This study aimed to assess extracurricular activities relating to physical activities in primary schools in Gwagwalada Area Council, of the Nigerian capital

METHODOLOGY
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 146 primary schools. Respondents’ interviews and direct observations were used. The findings were entered into a questionnaire adapted from School Health Program Evaluation questionnaire.

RESULT
While 5 (3.4%) of the schools surveyed allotted three periods a week for physical activities/ health education, 106 (72.6%) assigned two periods per week for this. All the schools surveyed observed break periods/ recess. A total of 39(36.8%) private schools, compared with 33(82.5%) public schools, had sports fields (p<0.001). Within the preceding year of the study, one hundred and seventeen (80.1%) of the schools staged drama as a form of periodic extracurricular activity. Inter-house sports was organized by 22(55.0%) public and 19(17.9%) private schools (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION
Most of the schools carried out varying forms of extracurricular activities on a daily, weekly or annual basis. Physical activities were more commonly undertaken in public schools. Private schools should be compelled by the appropriate authorities to provide adequate space for sporting and other physical activities. The schools should be made to adopt the recommendations of the World Health Organization