Riaz Uddin, Ph.D.
Asaduzzaman Khan, Ph.D.
"I am very pleased and privileged to be a part of the AHKGA Global Matrix 3.0 initiative, which provided us with a unique opportunity to showcase physical activity status in children and youth in Bangladesh. The country Report Card will help us to advocate for increasing physical activity opportunities to make our kids more active." - Riaz Uddin, Ph.D.
"It has been a great experience working with such a wonderful group of people through the Global Matrix 3.0 initiative. We need to build upon the platform Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA) has created and fulfil our commitments towards an active healthy childhood for every kid around the world." - Asaduzzaman Khan, Ph.D.
Results from the 2018 Active Healthy Kids Bangladesh Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth
Asaduzzaman Khan1, Mohammad Abdul Kadir2, Sohel Reza Choudhury3, Fatema Ashraf4, Mahbubur Rahman5, Kazi Rumana Ahmed1,6, K. M. Saif-Ur-Rahman5 Sonia Parvin1,5, Riaz Uddin1,7
1 The University of Queensland, Australia
2 Griffith University, Australia
3 National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh
4 Public Health Foundation of Bangladesh
5 icddr,b, Bangladesh
6 Bangladesh University of Health Sciences
7 Stamford University Bangladesh
Introduction
The 2018 Bangladesh Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth is a synthesis of the existing evidence of activity behaviours, available supports, and policy strategies for active lifestyle of young people in Bangladesh.
Methods
A research working group (RWG) representing experts from the key stakeholders in Bangladesh discussed the ten core indicators of the Global Matrix 3.0, and suggested an additional indicator ‘Contribution of the non-government organisations’. Data for these 11 indicators were extracted, collated, and used to grade the indicators based on the Global Matrix 3.0 grading scheme. Grades were finalised after consultation with the RWG members.
Results
Among the 11 indicators, data to grade were available for five. Each of ‘Overall physical activity’ and ‘Active transportation’ indicators received a grade ‘C-’, and ‘Sedentary behaviours’ received an ‘A-’. ‘Government strategies and investments’ and ‘Contributions of the non-government organisations’ were graded ‘C-’. The rest of the six indicators were assigned ‘INC’.
| Indicator | Grade |
| Overall Physical Activity | C- |
| Organised Sport Participation | INC |
| Active Play | INC |
| Active Transportation | C- |
| Sedentary Behaviours | A- |
| Physical Fitness | INC |
| Family and Peers | INC |
| School | INC |
| Community and Environment | INC |
| Government | C- |
| Non-government Organisation | C- |
Conclusions
Sedentary behaviour of the young people in Bangladesh seems to be satisfactory; however, a significant proportion of them do not engage in the recommended level of physical activity. There is a lack of data on other activity indicators including organised sports, family and peer supports, activity opportunities at schools, and activity friendly environment. Though available policies demonstrate governments’ commitments to an active lifestyle of young people in Bangladesh, the operationalisation of these policies is limited. The Report Card, therefore, calls for collecting surveillance data on all the indicators, which is instrumental to develop strategies for an active lifestyle of children and youth in Bangladesh.
