Active Healthy Kids

The World Health Organization recognizes that physical activity (PA) during childhood is crucial for healthy development, aligning well with the achievement of several United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study aimed to explore the associations between 10 key indicators of PA for children and adolescents assessed in the Global Matrix 4.0 project, and the UN SDGs. Data from 57 countries/jurisdictions of the Global Matrix 4.0 project were used. The UN SDG indicators were sourced from the SDG Transformation Center, which publishes each country's performance on each of the 17 SDGs. Given the robust evidence supporting plausible links between PA and SDGs 3 (good health and well-being), 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 13 (climate action), and 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions), these SDGs were investigated. Countries/jurisdictions with good and moderate performance in achieving SDG 3, SDG 9, SDG 11, and SDG 16 had higher grades than countries/jurisdictions with fair performance in achieving these SDGs for the following indicators: Organized Sports and PA, Community and Environment, and Government Investments and Strategies. However, countries/jurisdictions with good performance in achieving SDG 13 had lower grades than countries/jurisdictions with fair performance in achieving SDG 13 for the following indicators: Organized Sports and PA, Community and Environment, and Government Investments and Strategies. Organized Sports and PA, Community and Environment, and Government Investments and Strategies were the indicators that demonstrated differences between countries/jurisdictions with good and poor performance in achieving the SDGs.

PurposePhysical activity provides a wide range of health benefits for children and adolescents with disabilities (CAWD). However, despite CAWD being at higher risk of physical inactivity, there is a lack of surveillance systems that capture physical activity data of CAWD. To address this gap, the Global Matrix of Para Report Cards on physical activity of CAWD was set up with 14 participating countries/jurisdictions (Ng et al., 2023) based on the methodology of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance’s Global Matrix 4.0 (Aubert et al., 2023). This study aims to evaluate the process, outcome, and impact of the Global Matrix of Para Report Cards.MethodsThe evaluation was informed by the Global Matrix 3.0 evaluation process (Aubert et al., 2020). Process, outcome, and impact indicators were informed by online surveys, reports/publications, and website analytics of the special issue published in Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly.ResultsTwo online surveys have been completed by 64-71% of targeted respondents. Moderate-to-high satisfaction rates were reported for the development of and participation in the Global Matrix initiative and open-ended comments reported issues (e.g., data availability, inconsistency in definitions) and positive feedback (e.g., networking/collaboration, visibility). The participating Report Card teams assigned and contributed a total of 139 physical activity grades—overall physical activity, organised sport, active play, active transport, physical fitness, sedentary behaviour, family and peers, schools, community and environment, government—to the Global Matrix of which 45% were incomplete. Twelve Report Card teams published a short Para Report Card article for their country. As of February 2024, >47,000 views have been recorded for the special issue comprising the Global Matrix and country Para Report Card articles.ConclusionsThis evaluation highlights the need for more discussion on the definitions of disability and benchmarks of physical activity indicators to improve the grading process and more support in accessing and synthesising data related to CAWD. These are important steps to support inclusion and representation of CAWD in (inter)national surveillance of physical activity and health.

The purpose was to synthesize information gathered from the interpretation and conclusion sections of the Global Matrix of Para Report Cards on the physical activity of children and adolescents with disabilities. The synthesis was based on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats framework. The procedure consisted of three stages: (a)the application of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as the theoretical framework; (b)identifying and aligning Global Matrix indicators and benchmarks with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health components through a Delphi approach; and (c)using content analysis to identify themes from specific report cards. Outcomes reveal that further attention toward including children and adolescents with disabilities in fitness assessments is needed as well as adapted assessment methods. Program availability, equipment and facilities, and professional training emerged as strengths but need further development to overcome weaknesses. Paralympic inspiration was an opportunity, whereas extreme weather conditions presented potential threats to physical activity participation among children and adolescents with disabilities.

We examined recent global secular trends in 5 indicators of child and adolescent physical activity and sedentary behavior (Overall Physical Activity, Organized Sport and Physical Activity, Active Play, Active Transportation, and Sedentary Behavior) and 4 influences on these (Family and Peers, School, Community and Environment, and Government). Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance letter grades (A+ to F) were assigned numbers from 15 to 2, with 0 assigned for missing/incomplete grades. Trends from Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance Global Matrices 1.0 (2014) to 4.0 (2022) were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models with level of economic development and gender inequity considered as potential moderators. Report card grades were generally relatively stable. Trends generally did not differ significantly by level of economic development (except for Active Transportation and Active Play), but gender inequality did significantly moderate trends for most of the indicators, with higher gender inequality associated with more adverse changes in grades. The number of "incomplete" grades decreased over time, but this did not reach statistical significance. While trends varied within and between countries, physical activity and sedentary behaviors, and the influences on these behaviors globally, were relatively stable over the past decade or so, albeit at undesirable levels.

Insufficient physical activity and sedentary behaviors (SB) are major risk factors for non-communicable diseases. Monitoring the prevalence of physical activity (PA) and SB is essential to meet the health needs of the population. This article presents the prevalence of PA and SB in the French population and their evolution during the last decade. Data come from two cross-sectional surveys, representative of the population in France, the “Etude Nationale Nutrition Santé” 2006–2007 and the Esteban study 2014–2016, and were collected through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Recent Physical Activity Questionnaire for adults, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey and specific questionnaire for children. In 2014–2016, 71% of men and 53% of women met the PA recommendations (5 or more days per week with a moderate-intensity physical activity of at least 30 min per day). Since 2006–2007, PA has decreased for women, but increased for men; 80% of adults reported a daily leisure screen time of at least three hours in 2014–2016, in strong growth since 2006–2007. Among children, only 51% of boys and 33% of girls were meeting the PA recommendations (at least 60 min of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily). PA decreased significantly after the age of 10. Three-quarters of children spent two hours or more in front of a screen every day. These results show a lack of PA, in particular among women and girls, a high prevalence of SB in the French population, and a deterioration of these behaviours between 2006 and 2016.

Current approaches to violence risk assessment are focused on the identification of factors that are predictive of future violence rather than factors that predict desistance. This is also true for the popular tools designed to predict adolescent sexual recidivism. Research on strengths-based variables with adolescents who have sexually offended that could serve a protective function is only recently underway. In the current prospective study, scores from clinician-completed assessments using the Estimate of Risk of Adolescent Sexual Offense Recidivism (ERASOR) and the parent-completed form of the Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale (BERS-2) were evaluated in a sample of 81 adolescent males with at least one sexual offense. As expected, the ERASOR was significantly correlated with sexual recidivism over an average 3.5-year follow-up. In terms of a protective function, the Affective Strength scale of the BERS-2 was significantly negatively correlated with sexual recidivism, although it did not have incremental validity over and above the ERASOR. The BERS-2 School Functioning scale was significantly negatively correlated with nonsexual recidivism. The results are discussed in terms of previous findings and theoretical work on attachment in sexual offending behavior and implications for risk assessment practice.

BackgroundAbout 3500 button battery swallowing cases are reported to poison control centres in the USA each year and are an emerging risk worldwide. The most serious cases involve nickel-sized 20 mm lithium batteries which are found in remotes, key fobs, greeting cards, children's books, scales, and other common household items. These batteries can get stuck in the child's throat and burn through the oesophagus in as little as 2 hours. Repairing the damage is painful and can require feeding tubes, breathing tubes and multiple surgeries. In some cases, children have died.PurposeThe aim of this study is to measure parental awareness of the danger associated with button batteries and describe prevention campaigns underway in four countries.MethodsA total of 557 USA parents of children ages six and under were interviewed online during February/March 2012.ResultsMore than two-thirds of parents surveyed (68%) feel that button batteries pose a high level of danger. After learning about this issue, parents say they are highly likely to keep devices with button batteries out of reach of children (82%) secure devices with battery compartments (79%) and encourage other parents to do the same (66%).ConclusionsAs coin-sized lithium batteries became more widely used in household products, Safe Kids Worldwide member countries have partnered on a campaign called The Battery Controlled to raise awareness and change behaviour among adult caregivers about this little-known and emerging risk to small children.

The Vancouver Charter on Skiing Safety is based on skiing and snowboarding safety and the Turin Charter (approved in the context of the 2006 Turin Winter Olympic Games) and was brought to Canada by Safe Kids Canada. Originally prepared by a panel of experts and specialists delegated by European Governments who worked under the coordination of TOROC (Turin Organizing Committee), BE.PRA.S.A. (a project co-financed by the European Commission and the health authority of the Italian region of Veneto) and the Italian National Health Institute, the aim of the Charter is to promote a safe, healthy and active sporting and recreational culture, and to make its principles visible to the public, citizens and institutions. Over 30 international, national, provincial and municipal organisations have endorsed the Charter to date. The Charter was introduced at a Helmet Forum in November 2009 in Vancouver and featured experts such as Dr Charles Tator, Dr Richard Stanwick, Dr Brent Hagel and Mr Matt Herman. The forum was attended by injury prevention experts, ski/snowboard industry representatives and media and resulted in extensive national media coverage of the issue, especially the diversity of opinions and debates it has created. This presentation will show Safe Kids Canada's experience of how the Charter can be leveraged by other countries, review the challenges and successes, present our knowledge translation ‘recipe for success’ and update the audience on activities to date.

Objective—To evaluate the effectiveness of a skills training program in improving safe cycling behavior, knowledge, and attitudes in young children. Methods—Grade 4 children from six elementary schools in East York (a borough of Metropolitan Toronto) participated. The intervention—playground based instruction on bicycle handling skills by certified instructors—was randomly allocated to three schools. Altogether 141 children participated: 73 in the intervention group and 68 in the control group, with follow up evaluations available on 117 (83%). The primary outcome was safe cycling behavior (straight line riding, coming to a complete stop, and shoulder checking before a left turn). A self report questionnaire collected data on knowledge and attitudes. Baseline assessments were made in June, with follow up evaluations in September, 1995. Results—The prevalence of safe cycling behaviors at follow up in the intervention and control groups respectively, were: straight line riding (90% v 88%; p=0.782), coming to a complete stop (90% v 76%; p=0.225), and shoulder checking (0% v 2%; p=1.000). Over time (from baseline to follow up) children in both groups were more likely to maintain straight line riding, less likely to ride on the sidewalk, and less likely to consider that a car had more right to the road. Conclusions—This brief skills training program was not effective in improving safe cycling behavior, knowledge, or attitudes among grade 4 children.