Demographics of children as assessed in underprivileged primary schools in Gqeberha, SA, in February/March 2019
| Total | Girls | Boys | P value | Cohen’s d | |||||||
| n | M (SD) | 95% CI | n | M (SD) | 95% CI | n | M (SD) | 95% CI | |||
| Age | 922 | 10.41 (1.19) | 10.34 to 10.49 | 451 | 10.23 (1.13) | 10.12 to 10.33 | 471 | 10.59 (1.22) | 10.48 to 10.70 | <0.0001 | −0.31 |
| SES | 848 | 74.73 (14.17) | 73.77 to 75.68 | 429 | 74.16 (13.82) | 72.85 to 75.47 | 419 | 75.31 (14.52) | 73.91 to 76.70 | 0.2370 | −0.08 |
| Height (cm) | 932 | 139.88 (8.86) | 139.31 to 140.5 | 455 | 140.22 (8.96) | 139.39 to 141.04 | 477 | 139.56 (8.76) | 138.77 to 140.35 | 0.2568 | 0.07 |
| Weight (kg) | 922 | 35.61 (10.13) | 34.95 to 36.26 | 451 | 36.75 (11.00) | 35.73 to 37.77 | 471 | 34.51 (9.09) | 33.69 to 35.33 | 0.0008 | 0.22 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 922 | 17.98 (3.68) | 17.74 to 18.21 | 451 | 18.45 (4.04) | 18.08 to 18.82 | 471 | 17.52 (3.24) | 17.23 to 17.82 | 0.0001 | 0.25 |
| Body fat (%) | 922 | 23.64 (6.88) | 23.20 to 24.09 | 451 | 26.41 (6.28) | 25.83 to 26.99 | 471 | 21.00 (6.37) | 20.42 to 21.57 | <0.0001 | 0.85 |
| Waist circumference (cm) | 917 | 58.43 (7.89) | 57.92 to 58.94 | 452 | 58.81 (8.25) | 58.04 to 59.57 | 465 | 58.07 (7.52) | 57.39 to 58.76 | 0.1584 | 0.09 |
| Systolic BP (mm Hg) | 944 | 108.92 (13.43) | 108.06 to 109.78 | 466 | 109.29 (13.75) | 108.04 to 110.54 | 478 | 108.57 (13.12) | 107.39 to 109.74 | 0.4101 | 0.05 |
| Diastolic BP (mm Hg) | 944 | 67.17 (10.93) | 66.47 to 67.87 | 466 | 67.84 (10.83) | 66.85 to 68.83 | 478 | 66.51 (11.01) | 65.52 to 67.50 | 0.0619 | 0.12 |
| HbA1c (mmol/mol) | 766 | 35.6 (2.60) | 35.47 to 35.83 | 383 | 35.61 (2.46) | 35.36 to 35.86 | 382 | 35.68 (2.68) | 35.41 to 35.95 | 0.6870 | −0.03 |
| Total cholesterol (mmol/L) | 757 | 3.74 (0.66) | 3.69 to 3.78 | 379 | 3.79 (0.63) | 3.72 to 3.85 | 378 | 3.68 (0.69) | 3.61 to 3.75 | 0.0287 | 0.16 |
| LDL-C (mmol/L) | 748 | 2.03 (0.54) | 2.00 to 2.07 | 375 | 2.07 (0.53) | 2.01 to 2.12 | 373 | 2.00 (0.56) | 1.94 to 2.06 | 0.1004 | 0.12 |
| HDL-C (mmol/L) | 757 | 1.29 (0.31) | 1.27 to 1.32 | 379 | 1.27 (0.29) | 1.24 to 1.30 | 378 | 1.31 (0.32) | 1.28 to 1.35 | 0.0725 | −0.13 |
| Triglycerides (mmol/L) | 757 | 0.92 (0.55) | 0.88 to 0.96 | 379 | 1.02 (0.66) | 0.95 to 1.08 | 378 | 0.82 (0.38) | 0.78 to 0.86 | <0.0001 | 0.36 |
| CRF/VO2max (mL/kg/min) | 918 | 46.98 (5.77) | 46.62 to 47.38 | 455 | 45.48 (5.05) | 45.01 to 45.94 | 462 | 48.46 (6.04) | 47.91 to 49.01 | <0.0001 | −0.54 |
| MVPA (min/day) | 920 | 72.99 (28.25) | 71.16 to 74.82 | 456 | 61.01 (21.96) | 58.99 to 63.03 | 464 | 84.76 (28.80) | 82.14 to 87.39 | <0.0001 | −0.93 |
Statistical significance at p<0.05. The variation in the n values per variable results from missing data. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) are interpreted as follows: d<0.2, no difference; d=0.20–0.49, small difference; d=0.50–0.79, medium difference; d≥0.80, large difference.
BMI, body mass index; BP, blood pressure; CRF, cardiorespiratory fitness; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; MVPA, moderate to vigorous physical activity; SA, South Africa; SES, socioeconomic status.