Background: Accumulating sufficient moderate to vigorous physical activity is recognized as a key determinant of physical, physiological, developmental, mental, cognitive, and social health among children and youth (aged 5–17 y). The Global Matrix 3.0 of Report Card grades on physical activity was developed to achieve a better understanding of the global variation in child and youth physical activity and associated supports. Methods: Work groups from 49 countries followed harmonized procedures to develop their Report Cards by grading 10 common indicators using the best available data. The participating countries were divided into 3 categories using the United Nations’ human development index (HDI) classification (low or medium, high, and very high HDI). Results: A total of 490 grades, including 369 letter grades and 121 incomplete grades, were assigned by the 49 work groups. Overall, an average grade of “C-,” “D+,” and “C-” was obtained for the low and medium HDI countries, high HDI countries, and very high HDI countries, respectively. Conclusions: The present study provides rich new evidence showing that the situation regarding the physical activity of children and youth is a concern worldwide. Strategic public investments to implement effective interventions to increase physical activity opportunities are needed.

Background: This study compares results of physical activity report cards from 9 countries with low to medium human development indices, participating in the Global Matrix 3.0 initiative. Methods: Country-specific report cards were informed by relevant data and government policy documents, reporting on 10 core indicators of physical activity for children and youth. Data were synthesized by report card working groups following a harmonized process. Grade assignments for each indicator utilized a standard grading rubric. Indicators were grouped into one of 2 categories: daily behaviors and settings and sources of influence. Descriptive statistics (average grades) were computed after letter grades were converted into interval variables. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were calculated for all correlation analyses. Results: Mean grades for daily behaviors were higher (C) than those for settings and sources of influence (D+). Twenty-nine out of the possible 90 grades were assigned an incomplete. There were moderate to strong positive and negative relationships between different global indices and overall physical activity, organized sport and physical activity, active play, family, community and environment, and government. Conclusions: Findings demonstrate an urgent need for high-quality data at the country level in order to better characterize the physical activity levels of children and youth in countries with low to medium human development indices.

About one-third of Ghanaian children and youth engage in inadequate PA. More research on PA behavior and enabling environments is needed to better grade the indicators of PA in the future and to inform policy and interventions in Ghana. Appropriate school physical education and after-school sports policies and programs are warranted.

No abstract

Background: Limited evidence exists on indicators of physical activity (PA) and guidelines for children and youth in Ghana, despite the growing burden of physical inactivity, obesity, and related morbidity. A baseline description of PA indicators of Ghanaian children and youth is hereby presented in the 2014 Ghanaian Physical Activity Report Card. Methods: Data for the report card were obtained from a very limited available literature on PA among children and youth in Ghana. PA experts independently assigned grades to indicators based on available evidence, which were then harmonized and agreed to by group consensus. Results: The report card is based on limited evidence. Thus, 2 indicators were not graded (Active Play, and Family and Peer Support). For sedentary behavior, a B grade was assigned based on evidence from the 2012 Ghana School Health Survey which indicated that 21% of children and youth were sedentary. Organized Sports was graded a C, while the remainder of indicators (Overall PA levels, Active Transportation, School, Community, and Government) were graded a D. Conclusions: About one-third of Ghanaian children and youth engage in inadequate PA. More research on PA behavior and enabling environments is needed to better grade the indicators of PA in the future and to inform policy and interventions in Ghana. Appropriate school physical education and after-school sports policies and programs are warranted.

Background: Currently, there is limited evidence on estimates for physical activity (PA) behavior and sedentary behavior (SB) in Ghana. This report card (RC) is intended to increase awareness and sensitivity about issues surrounding PA and SB in Ghana. Methods: Data were collected from peer-reviewed literature, graduate students' theses, physical education and sports documents, and a survey of opinions of stakeholders covering the 10 key RC indicators and benchmarks. The principal investigator harmonized all grades. A consensus meeting of the RC team was held to assign the final grades. Results: School and Community grades declined from a D in 2014 to an F in 2016. SB declined from B to D. Family and Active Play were not graded in 2014 and now received an F and a B, respectively. Family and Built Environment were graded F, Active Transportation received a C, and Government and Overall PA were graded D. Conclusions: A conscious national investment effort can increase overall PA among children.

Background Physical inactivity is a risk factor for chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), yet national surveillance of physical activity (PA) levels is not well defined. Though Ghana has a national health policy that emphasizes health promotion and prevention of lifestyle diseases, and an NCD policy with PA recommendations in 2012, it does not have an integrated plan of action to address widespread physical inactivity. Objective This review aims to identify the nature and extent of research in NCDs and PA in Ghana to inform the creation of an integrated action plan to address physical inactivity. The review focuses on four research questions: (1) what is the prevalence and monitoring of NCDs in Ghana from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) reports, (2) what are the key risk factors of NCDs in Ghana, (3) what are the identified indicators and benchmarks that enhance or impede PA participation in Ghana, and (4) what are the active interventions and policy directives for NCDs and PA participation in Ghana. Methods Ghana‐specific articles, reports, and policies related to NCDs and PA were collected traversing 2018–2020. The scoping review included: (1) reviewing articles and documents related to risk factors of NCDs in Ghana, (2) reviewing articles and documents from the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!) monitoring and surveillance template for Ghana; (3) reviewing articles and documents on the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance Ghana Report Card on Physical Activity; (4) the Demographic and Health Survey website and (5) specific searches for World Health Organization reports. Results A total of 1763 records were identified through keyword search. Based on eligibility criteria, 4 were relevant to question 1, 23 to question 2, 16 to question 3, and 11 to question 4. For question 1, international benchmark surveys revealed that physical inactivity accounts for 20% of NCD related deaths in Ghana. For question 2, 8 records (34.8%) focused on hypertension, 5 (21.74%) body composition and obesity, 4 (17.4%) cardiovascular diseases, 3 (13.0%) on diabetes, 1 (4.4%) on stroke, and 2 (8.7%) on other risk factors. For question 3, 6 records (37%) focused on overall PA, 3 (19%) on the built environment, 2 (12%) active transportation, 2 (12%) on physical inactivity or sedentary behaviors, 2 (12%) on influence of family and peers, and 1 (6%) on active play. For question 4, though multiple national policies exist, including a minimum weekly level of compulsory physical education per week in the school curriculum, data monitoring and surveillance on PA participation are scarce. Conclusion Based on the scoping review of articles traversing 2018–2020, this review revealed minimal research on these topics. Data on PA participation is non‐existent due to lack of conscious monitoring mechanisms, integrated plan of action, intervention strategies and policy directives. A national research agenda is imperative to better understand the relationship and clear connection ...

IntroductionThe purpose of this brief report is to describe how a structured sport-based positive life skills program can be used in promoting the development of entrepreneurial skills of youth in Ghana.MethodsA total of 29 youth participated in the study with 11 as the control group and the remaining 18 as the intervention group. The students in the intervention together with 5 parents participated in a weekend mapping camp. Data for the study was collected with the Youth Experience Survey for Sport to measure the Life skills and entrepreneurship skills using a quasi experimental pre and post test control group design.ResultsThe youth in the intervention group reported important physical and personal benefits and entrepreneurial skills such as cooperation (teamwork), risk taking, creativity, leadership, cognitive development, and positive engagement in physical activity which they did not previously have. The results are similar to existing published papers giving this report a commendable validity and reliability.DiscussionSimilar to the previously published papers, the perceived gains in this report also show that exposing youth to a structured sport-based positive life skills program produce both physical benefits and development of lifelong skills necessary to develop skills necessary for entrepreneurial endeavors. When this intervention is upscaled in Ghana the country could offset high youth unemployment with its associated challenges.