Abstract
BackgroundGlobal population data suggest that physical activity levels in children remain unacceptably low. Improved participation in organised sport has been recommended by the WHO as one strategy to improve population levels of physical activity. In 2018, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, the government introduced the Active Kids scheme, to help families meet the cost of getting children into organized sport. The aim of this study is to describe the uptake of Active Kids and assess the impact of the scheme on organized sport participation and child physical activity in a region of New South Wales.MethodsA pragmatic longitudinal study was undertaken of parents/carers from primary school aged children (5–12 years) in the Hunter region of NSW, Australia. Baseline data were collected between Oct-Dec 2017, with follow-up 12 months later. A telephone survey occurred at both time points, asking questions regarding registration and redemption of an Active Kids voucher for their child, child participation in organised sports and child physical activity levels.ResultsOf the 974 parents/carers who consented to participate, 511 (52.5%) completed the telephone surveys at both time points. A very large proportion of children (n = 454, 89.0%) were reported by their parents/carers at baseline as meeting the minimum physical activity guideline of 60 min per day. Of participating parents/carers in this study, 407 (96.0%) reported redeeming an Active Kids voucher. Children who redeemed a voucher had three times the odds to participate in organized team sports from baseline to follow-up (p = 0.009). Sub group analyses identified that females who redeemed a voucher had four times the odds to participate in organized team sports (p = 0.012).ConclusionsGiven the already active nature of this sample, no significant improvements in physical activity levels were noted, but the positive contribution community sport can have on health and wellbeing amongst children is reinforced. Whilst voucher schemes can address financial burdens across all socio-economic groups, more population targeting is needed to deliver voucher schemes to the most disadvantaged and inactive segments of the population in order to increase physical activity.
Highlights
Global population data suggest that physical activity levels in children remain unacceptably low
Given the already active nature of this sample, no significant improvements in physical activity levels were noted, but the positive contribution community sport can have on health and wellbeing amongst children is reinforced
Global population data suggest that physical activity levels in childhood remain unacceptably low, with between 15 and 38% of children aged 5–12 years meeting physical activity guideline recommendations in countries such as Australia [2], the United States (U.S.) [3] and the United Kingdom (U.K.) [4]
Summary
Global population data suggest that physical activity levels in children remain unacceptably low. Improved participation in organised sport has been recommended by the WHO as one strategy to improve population levels of physical activity. In 2018, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, the government introduced the Active Kids scheme, to help families meet the cost of getting children into organized sport. Global population data suggest that physical activity levels in childhood remain unacceptably low, with between 15 and 38% of children aged 5–12 years meeting physical activity guideline recommendations in countries such as Australia [2], the United States (U.S.) [3] and the United Kingdom (U.K.) [4]. Analysis by the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance of data from 38 countries across six continents, for example, reported that just 40–59% of children participate in organised sport, providing considerable scope for improvement [8]. Research suggests that while there are a number of barriers to youth sports participation, cost of participation is frequently cited [9,10,11,12,13]
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