title: A successful nationwide implementation of the 'FIFA 11 for Health' programme in Brazilian elementary schools.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To deliver a nationwide implementation of the 'FIFA 11 for Health' programme in Brazil and to compare the outcomes with results obtained previously in Sub-Saharan Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort study among 3694 Brazilian children aged 9-12 years within 128 elementary schools situated in 12 cities in the five Regions of Brazil. The 'FIFA 11 for Health' programme contains 11 90 min sessions: the first 45 min serve to encourage physical activity through the development of football skills (Play Football) and the second 45 min provide a vehicle for delivering 10 health messages (Play Fair). We measured preintervention and postintervention health knowledge (29-item questionnaire) and the children's evaluation of the programme (6-item questionnaire).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age of the children across the five Regions was 10.6 years (range 9.2-11.6). The mean preintervention health knowledge score for the five Regions was 60.2% (range 53.8-65.3%); the mean postintervention score was 78.6% (range 70.7-86.8%); thus the mean increase in health knowledge was 18.4% (range 13.6-29.1%). 91% of the children gave a positive evaluation for the programme (range across five Regions: 82.3-96.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study showed that the 'FIFA 11 for Health' programme, which was originally developed in English and translated into another language, was delivered successfully with results equivalent to those previously obtained in Sub-Saharan Africa. The programme was effective across the five Regions of Brazil.
authors: FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre, Zurich, Switzerland Colin Fuller Consultancy Ltd, Sutton Bonington, UK.
authors: Colin W
authors: CW
authors: Fuller
authors: Brazilian Football Confederation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Edilson S
authors: ES
authors: Thiele
authors: Brazilian Football Confederation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Manoel
authors: M
authors: Flores
authors: Colin Fuller Consultancy Ltd, Sutton Bonington, UK Medical School Hamburg (MSH), Hamburg, Germany Schulthess Clinic, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Astrid
authors: A
authors: Junge
authors: Brazilian Football Confederation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Diogo
authors: D
authors: Netto
authors: Colin Fuller Consultancy Ltd, Sutton Bonington, UK Schulthess Clinic, Zurich, Switzerland Fédération Internationale de Football Association, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Jiri
authors: J
authors: Dvorak
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006284:Health Plan Implementation / Q000458:organization & administration; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Children; Communicable disease; Football; Health promotion; Non-communicable disease