Physical fitness profile of rural versus urban primary school children in eThekwini district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

PurposeAssessment of physical fitness (PF) in children as a health indicator is crucial for identifying areas requiring attention regarding the prevention of non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the PF profiles of rural and urban primary school children in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.MethodsIn a cross-sectional survey, 520 consecutive primary school children (urban: 260, rural: 260, age: 6–13 years) recruited from 2 randomly selected schools were assessed with the Eurofit test battery. Four components of the test were assessed: standing long jump (SLJ), sit-ups (SU), 5-m shuttle run test (5m-SRT), and cricket ball throw (CBT). Composite z-scores for the tests were ranked by age and sex, and categorized into low, moderate, and high PF.ResultsUrban and rural children were statistically comparable (<i>p</i> > 0.05) regarding their age, weight, and height but rural children had a significantly higher body mass index (<i>p</i> < 0.05) than their urban-based counterparts. Rural children obtained significantly higher SLJ (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and SU scores (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and lower 5m-SRT scores (<i>p</i> < 0.001) than those from the urban school but their CBT scores were statistically comparable (<i>p</i> = 0.994). The prevalence of low PF status was significantly higher (<i>p</i> < 0.001) among urban children (54.6%) compared with their rural counterparts (26.5%).ConclusionsPrevalence of low PF was higher among urban primary school learners compared with their rural counterparts. Place of residence should be considered when implementing effective interventions to promote physical activity and health.