Abstract

LOPES, Iraneide Etelvina; BANDEIRA, Alexsandra da Silva  and  FILHO, Valter Cordeiro Barbosa. Stages of change for physical activity and socioeconomic correlates in schoolchildren from Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil: a cross-sectional study. Motri. [online]. 2017, vol.13, suppl.1, pp.84-90. ISSN 1646-107X.

This study aimed to identify the prevalence and factors associated with Stages of Change for Physical Activity (SCPA) in adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 386 students from public schools in Fortaleza, Ceará. The following question was used: “In relation to your physical activity habits, would you say that:” classifying the answers in five SCPA (pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance). Sex, age, number of people who live, work situation, family income and parental education were independent variables. The Chi-square test was used (p <0,05). The prevalence of students in SCPA was 17,7%, 19,2%, 21,6%, 14,8%, and 27,0% for pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance, respectively. Boys had elevated proportion in the action and maintenance stages (p = 0,01). Adolescents whose family had income greater than R$ 1000,00 had higher proportion in the maintenance stage when compared to those with lower income (p = 0,01). The other variables were not associated with SCPA (p > 0,05). In conclusion, elevated prevalence of adolescents in inactive SCPA was identified. It is important to direct strategies that generate interest for physical activity, especially girls and adolescents with lower income.

Keywords : adolescent behaviour; motor activity; social class.

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