Project summary:

In 2019 the WHO published the first global guidelines on early childhood movement behaviours (time spent in physical activity, sedentary behaviour e.g. screen time, and sleep): for optimal growth, health, and development 3-4 year olds should spend at least 3 hours per day in physical activity, no more than 1 hour per day on screen time, and get 10-13 hours good quality sleep. So far, however, what percentage of young children in Malawi meet the new WHO guidelines is unknown, it is not clear if compliance depends on factors such as age, gender, or socio-economic status, or whether compliance can be measured accurately with simple methods such as parent/caregiver reports.

We aim to recruit 500 preschool children aged 3-4 years from urban and rural areas. The time each child usually spends in physical activity, screen time, and sleep will be assessed using both objective and subjective methods (objective= activity monitors worn by the child; subjective = parent/caregiver questionnaires).

This project will help to develop interventions to improve the health of young children in Malawi and other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in two way: (a) knowledge exchange activities in year 3; and (b) planning a future school/church-based intervention aimed at improving the movement behaviours.

We aim to recruit 500 preschool children aged 3-4 years from urban and rural areas. The time each child usually spends in physical activity, screen time, and sleep will be assessed using both objective and subjective methods (objective= activity monitors worn by the child; subjective = parent/caregiver questionnaires).

This project will help to develop interventions to improve the health of young children in Malawi and other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in two way: (a) knowledge exchange activities in year 3; and (b) planning a future school/church-based intervention aimed at improving the movement behaviours