Applicability of the Fels questionnaire on physical activity of children in rural areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Vedran Đido,Hadžan Konjo,Deana Švaljug,Đemil Omerović,Marijan Marjanović,Aida Pilav,Sandra Boskovic,Jenny Phillips

doi:10.17532/jhsci.2020.1072

Abstract

Introduction: Insufficient physical activity is one of the leading public health problems in the world, but also in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Modern civilization is characterized by a significant decrease in physical activity, and the number of people whose lifestyle can be called sedentary has never been higher, which is especially emphasised among children and adolescents. Aim of the study is to examine public health significance of physical activity on the occurrence and the degree of obesity in children and adolescents in primary and secondary schools and to determine the applicability of the Fels questionnaire on physical activity of children in rural areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: We used a transversal research method of a cross-sectional study at a one-time point, and for obtaining results we used the Fels physical activity questionnaire for children and measurement protocol. Results: 276 primary and secondary school students in two cities participated in this survey. Respondents in Busovača are more physically active than their peers in Sarajevo. One-third of the total number of respondents is overweight and obese, and respondents in Sarajevo are significantly more nourished than their peers in Busovača. The Fels questionnaire is conditionally applicable, especially in rural areas. Conclusion: This study confirmed that the Fels questionnaire for assessing the level of physical activity for children and young people, which is the general instrument for research of physical activity in children, is too generalized because it is based on a homogeneous urban population.

Highlights

Insufficient physical activity is one of the leading public health problems in the world, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Most children and adolescents are relatively physically inactive or mostly not active enough to meet the recommendations of minimum physical activity [1]
The results show that students in Busovača are more physically active (8.19) than students in Sarajevo (7.10) and that sports (3.26) and housework (3.06) account for the largest part of physical activity of students in Busovača

Summary

Introduction

Insufficient physical activity is one of the leading public health problems in the world, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Aim of the study is to examine public health significance of physical activity on the occurrence and the degree of obesity in children and adolescents in primary and secondary schools and to determine the applicability of the Fels questionnaire on physical activity of children in rural areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Vedran Đido, et al Journal of Health Sciences 2020;10(3):204-210http://www.jhsci.ba growing rapidly in most societies around the world. It is not the fact only for countries with high income, but this trend increases in countries with low and medium income [2], which is the consequence of rapid economic development, and changes in living environment and habits over the last two decades [3,4]. Its effects are associated with a decrease in quality of life and increase in early mortality [8]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion