title: Associations between demographic characteristics and physical activity practices in Nevada schools.
abstract: Schools are important settings for not only providing and promoting children's physical activity (PA) but also for reducing PA disparities. We investigated associations between school-level demographic characteristics (racial/ethnic and socioeconomic composition, urban-rural status, and student-to-teacher ratio) and 16 PA-promoting practices in 347 Nevada public elementary, middle, and high schools in 2014. We found that low-cost and easy-to-implement practices are most prevalent. There is relative demographic equity in ten of 16 PA practices and significant differences in six PA practices in Nevada schools. Schools with comparatively larger percentages of Black students are the most disadvantaged, as they have the fewest PA-supportive practices in place. Higher percent black was associated with lower odds of providing classroom activity breaks (AOR=0.632, 95% CI=0.453-0.881) and bike racks (AOR=0.60, 95% CI=0.362-0.996), greater odds of withholding recess/PE for disciplinary reasons (AOR=1.377, 95% CI=1.006-1.885), and lower odds of having recess supervisors who are trained to promote PA (AOR=0.583, 95% CI=0.374-0.909). Schools with greater percentages of Hispanic students have lower odds of providing before-school PA programs (AOR=0.867, 95% CI=0.761-0.987), whereas schools with greater percentages of low-SES students have greater odds of providing after-school PA programs (AOR=1.135, 95% CI=1.016-1.268). Higher student-to-teacher ratio was also associated with greater odds of providing after-school PA programs (AOR=1.135, 95% CI=1.016-1.268). Urban-rural status was unrelated to all PA practices.
authors: Pennsylvania State University, Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education, 103 Armsby Bldg, University Park, PA 16802, USA. Electronic address: smm67@psu.edu.
authors: Shannon M
authors: SM
authors: Monnat
authors: California State University, Long Beach, College of Health & Human Services, USA. Electronic address: Monica.Lounsbery@csulb.edu.
authors: Monica A F
authors: MA
authors: Lounsbery
authors: San Diego State University, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, USA. Electronic address: tmckenzi@mail.sdsu.edu.
authors: Thomas L
authors: TL
authors: McKenzie
authors: Pennsylvania State University, Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education, 103 Armsby Bldg, University Park, PA 16802, USA. Electronic address: rfc134@psu.edu.
authors: Raeven Faye
authors: RF
authors: Chandler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D003710:Demography / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009505:Nevada; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012574:Schools / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Children; Demography; Disparities; Nevada; Physical activity; Schools