RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY, SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS, AND PHYSICAL-FITNESS OF 8-15-YEAR-OLD YOUTH FROM MOZAMBIQUE

A cross-sectional study of 593 students (277 boys, 316 girls) 8-15 yea rs of age was done to evaluate the physical fitness (PF) of children a nd adolescents from Maputo, Mozambique, relative to socioeconomic stat us (SES) and physical activity (PA). PF was assessed by a battery of f ield tests including the sit and reach, sit-ups, hand grip strength, a 10 x 5 meters shuttle run, and two distance runs, 1,600 and 2,400 met ers. PA was estimated with a questionnaire designed for this populatio n. Students were divided into three groups according to region of resi dence, which was used as the criterion of SES. PA was more intense amo ng underprivileged students due to domestic activities and walking tim e per day. PF significantly differed among SES groups. Poor students e xhibited significantly better results on the sit and reach and enduran ce runs, while privileged children performed better on situps and the shuttle run. There were no differences in grip strength. Comparison wi th North American reference data suggests that Mozambican youth have g reater flexibility and cardiorespiratory endurance, but less absolute strength and power. The results suggest that SES is an important deter minant of fitness in Mozambique, especially because of its influence o n body size, composition, and on PA. In addition, cultural effects on the performance of the tests were indicated. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.