Matern Child Health J. 2023 Nov 7. doi: 10.1007/s10995-023-03815-0. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The current study intends to measure parents’ perceptions of newborn and toddler physical activity.
METHODS: A Cross-sectional study was conducted at the pediatric clinic at a University Hospital in Riyadh. The parents or guardians of children 0 to 3 years of age, healthy infants, and toddlers who visited the vaccination and pediatric clinic at a University Hospital in Riyadh, were recruited. The Parental Perceptions of Physical Activity Scale (PPPAS) was translated into the Arabic language. The Chi-square test was applied to observe the association between categorical variables. P value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
RESULTS: A total of 383 parents were recruited. There was a significant association observed between physical activity and income, employment, and education. A significant association was observed between the following perceptions; the child enjoys physical activity, it increases the child’s fitness level, the strength of the muscles, flexibility, and life span, improves happiness, keeps the child active, and provides a sense of achievement, and decrease future weight problems.
CONCLUSION FOR PRACTICE: The study determined that parental inclination towards engaging in a physical activity intervention for their infants, as well as identifying any concerns that may impact their children’s adherence to physical activity was satisfied.
PMID:37936024 | DOI:10.1007/s10995-023-03815-0
