School-based opportunities for physical activity in West Virginia public schools.
BACKGROUND
Schools have the unique potential to provide numerous opportunities for promoting physical activity. This article describes findings from a statewide survey of opportunities for physical activity in West Virginia (WV) schools. The purpose was to provide baseline data for two of the WV Healthy People 2010 objectives related to schools and youth to identify priorities for action.


METHODS
Survey questions were adapted from the 2000 School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS), conducted by CDC. Random stratified sampling across school level and size resulted in a final sample of 296 elementary schools, 146 middle and junior high schools, and 124 high schools (total = 566). The overall response rate was 73%.


RESULTS
Eleven percent of elementary, 2% of middle or junior high, and 31% of senior high schools met the SHPP's criterion of providing daily physical education. Ninety-four percent of elementary schools reported offering daily recess. Overall, 42.3% of schools provided student and community access to indoor facilities outside of normal school hours, while 80.7% of schools provided access to outdoor facilities beyond normal school hours.


CONCLUSIONS
Survey results are being used to target increased physical education in elementary schools and increased opportunities beyond physical education at all school levels.
O'Hara Tompkins
Nancy
N
Prevention Research Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506, USA. NTompkins@hsc.wvu.edu
Zizzi
Sam
S
Zedosky
Lenore
L
Wright
Jessica
J
Vitullo
Elizabeth
E
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014903:West Virginia