title: The association between socio-ecological factors and having an after-school physical activity program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  After-school physical activity (PA) programs promote PA among youth. Few studies have used socio-ecological health models to identify barriers and facilitators of after-school PA programs. This study examined which socio-ecological factors are associated with having an after-school PA program.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was administered to key representatives of 114 elementary and 129 secondary schools. The association between socio-ecological factors and having an after-school PA program was analyzed at school level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both types of schools more knowledge about community schools was positively associated with having an after-school PA program (odds ratio [OR] = 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18-3.27; OR = 1.88; 95% CI = 1.27-2.80, respectively). In elementary schools, environmental factors associated with having an after-school PA program included PA facilities (OR = 4.98; 95% CI = 1.08-23.05), a PA working group (OR = 3.37; 95% CI = 1.02-11.10), agreements with the community (OR = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.05-2.43), shortage of human resources (OR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.37-0.89) and lack of support from teachers (OR = 0.51; 95% CI = 0.33-0.80). In secondary schools, environmental factors included the presence of a remunerated coordinator (OR = 5.12; 95% CI = 1.38-19.10) and partnerships with "sport and PA leaders" (OR = 3.54; 95% CI = 1.01-12.41).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Having an after-school PA program was associated with personal and environmental factors, which supports the use of socio-ecological frameworks for explorative and intervention studies aiming to increase after-school PA programs.
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Watersportlaan 2, 9000 Gent, Belgium. ragnar.vanacker@ugent.be
authors.forename: Ragnar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van Acker
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Bourdeaudhuij
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Martelaer
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seghers
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Cocker
authors.forename: Greet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cardon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001530:Belgium; D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016134:Organizational Policy; D012572:School Health Services; D012931:Social Environment; D040241:Social Marketing; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires