| Literature DB >> 20604914 |
Catherine E Draper1, Anniza de Villiers, Estelle V Lambert, Jean Fourie, Jillian Hill, Lucinda Dalais, Zulfa Abrahams, Nelia P Steyn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The burden of non-communicable diseases, including type 2 diabetes, is growing in South Africa. This country has a complex mix of over- and under-nutrition, especially in low-income communities, and concerning levels of physical inactivity in children and youth. This paper describes HealthKick, a school-based nutrition and physical activity intervention in primary schools in these settings aimed at reducing diabetes risk factors. METHODS/Entities:
Mesh:
Year: 2010 PMID: 20604914 PMCID: PMC2910683 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-398
Source DB: PubMed Journal: BMC Public Health ISSN: 1471-2458 Impact factor: 3.295
Social Ecological model and HealthKick intervention
| Social Ecological levels | Areas for intervention |
|---|---|
| Diet, choices and habits, knowledge, self-efficacy and beliefs, fitness levels, awareness | |
| Priorities for parents, encouragement from family and peers, role models | |
| Resources for physical activity and sport, opportunities for physical activity and sport, encouragement from teachers, implementation of curriculum | |
| Socioeconomic circumstances, food insecurity, lack of resources for physical activity and sport, social norms around physical activity and nutrition |
Figure 1HealthKick logic model.
Intervention Mapping for the HealthKick intervention
| Intervention Mapping Steps | Programme activities |
|---|---|
| Formative assessment (described below) | |
| Members of the different planning groups embarked on a series of brainstorming sessions to determine and prioritise the key health problem/s, the behavioural and environmental factors related to the problem/s, and the determinants of these factors | |
| Behavioural and environmental outcomes of the intervention were identified | |
| Performance objectives were specified (required actions for achievement of outcomes) | |
| Personal and external determinants identified for each performance objective to develop change objectives | |
| (Change objective = performance objective + determinants) | |
| Examples of change objectives given in Table 3 | |
| These were identified for change objectives; example given in Table 4 | |
| Programme components and materials described under 'Phase 2' were developed, and include the action planning process and toolkit | |
| This step is currently underway and consultation with the Western Cape Education Department is key to this part of the process | |
| This step is currently underway and is described under 'Phase 3' |
Examples of behavioural outcomes and change objectives
| Behavioural outcome: Increase learners' participation in physical activity during school time | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be physically active during discretionary time, e.g. break time (recess) | Recognition and reward for those who participate in PA to the best of their ability | Appropriate context - fun, fair, non-judgemental, non-competitive, creativity around competition | Facilities and equipment are available, safe and accessible | Break time is not taken away as punishment |
| Encouraged by parents, peers and teachers to be active | Peers are active | Environment conducive to PA during discretionary time | Time for PA is not taken up by other school activities | |
| Choose to eat a variety of foods according to the SA food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) | List the health advantages of eating a variety of food in childhood as well as in adulthood (preventing CDLs) | Believe that obtaining macronutrients from a variety of foods is important for a healthy diet | Enjoy eating a variety of foods daily | Demonstrate the ability to create a daily meal plan that includes all food groups from the FBDGs |
| Show awareness of the importance of variety | Value the benefits of eating a variety of foods daily | Express confidence that a variety of food can be eaten every day | ||
| Know the macronutrients and their role | ||||
Example of methods and strategies
| Performance objective | Determinant | Methods | Strategies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demonstrate the ability to create a daily meal plan that includes all the food groups according to the FBDGs | • Modeling (Social cognitive theory) | • Teaching through different learning areas in the curriculum | |
| • Skills training | • Skills practice in role plays and home work assignments | ||
| • Information | • Guiding educators to place the change objective in the curriculum | ||
| • Guiding educators to serve as models for healthy eating practices | |||
| Enjoy physical activity and believe that physical activity will make a difference in health and well-being | • Tailoring | Curriculum component that encourages activities such as dance as a means to increase levels of physical activity, and emphasises: | |
| • Persuasive communication | • How physical activity will make a difference in learners' health and well-being (relating to relevant health issues in their community) | ||
| • That any physical activity is better than nothing | |||
| • That physical activity is important for boys and girls |
Formative assessment key findings
| Top health priorities for learners, as identified by principals (n = 100) | |
|---|---|
| Unhealthy diet | 76% |
| Lack of physical activity | 50% |
| Underweight | 47% |
| Substance abuse | 91% |
| Tobacco use | 57% |
| Unhealthy diet | 44% |
| To a great extent | 84% |
| Lack of financial resources | 71% |
| Inadequate facilities | 52% |
| Overweight | 31% |
| Obese | 47% |
| Hypertensive | 56% |
| Smoke | 80% |
| High waist circumference | 56% |
| High cholesterol | 30% |
| Low physical activity | 77% |
Figure 2Action planning zones and areas for action.
Areas for action and examples of strategies
| School physical and policy environment | Strategies |
|---|---|
| Tuckshop/vendors | Enlist the help of the SA Heart and Stroke Foundation, who have developed a tuckshop intervention to assist schools in the promotion of healthier foods |
| School nutrition and physical activity guidelines/policies | Develop a policy that prohibits the use of physical activity as a form of punishment |
| Develop a policy that stipulates the type of food to be sold at fund-raising events | |
| School health committee | Form a representative health committee that helps to address issues relating to nutrition and physical activity (not just general health and safety) |
| Vegetable garden, outside or in containers | Enlist the help of the SA Department of Agriculture, who have a programme to assist schools in the planting and maintenance of vegetable gardens |
| Activities during break time, e.g. playground circuits | Use equipment from the physical activity resource bin provided to set up a physical activity circuit around the school grounds |
| Extra mural sport | Link up with the SA Gymnastics Federation to join their community-based rope skipping programme aimed at primary school children |
| Design and make posters for poster event | Ask learners (Grades 4-6) to make posters that illustrate one or more of the HealthKick goals |
| Lesson period for physical activity | Ensure that the time allocated to physical activity is 'ring-fenced' for this purpose by drawing on lesson plans and activity suggestions in the resource box provided |
| Poster event | Arrange an event that learners' families and community members can attend to showcase the posters made in Life Orientation |
| Physical activity or sporting event | Arrange a fun walk in which learners' families and community members can participate to promote the importance of physical activity for health |
| Denim for Diabetes day | Contact Diabetes SA to arrange this event where learners bring a small cash donation in order to wear denim to raise awareness about diabetes |
| Activity during International Diabetes week | During International Diabetes week (annually in November) arrange a guest speaker to come and speak on the importance of healthy lifestyles |