Perceived barriers to participation in physical activity among children in primary schools in Owerri North Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria
Nonye Peculiar Okafor, Melitus A. Oyigbo, Jude C. Nwakamma, and Magaret Ada Maduka
Physical activity is essential for children’s physical, psychological, social, and overall development, yet participation among primary school children may be constrained by institutional, teacher-related, and pupil-related factors. This study investigated the perceived barriers affecting children’s participation in physical activities in primary schools in Owerri North Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population comprised 410 primary school teachers, from which a sample of 202 teachers was determined using the Taro Yamane formula at a 0.05 level of precision and selected through a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire (BPAQ). The instrument was subjected to face and content validation by experts in Physical and Health Education and Measurement and Evaluation, while its reliability was established using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, yielding a coefficient of 0.83. Data were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, mean, and standard deviation. The findings revealed that inadequate funding, inadequate support from school management, inadequate access to sports facilities and equipment, poor allocation of instructional time, and inadequate teaching spaces were major institutional barriers. The study concluded that participation in physical activities, among children in primary schools in Owerri North LGA, is constrained by interconnected institutional, teacher-related, and pupil-related factors. It recommends improved funding and provision of facilities and equipment, stronger administrative support, adequate instructional time, continuous teacher professional development, and the adoption of engaging and inclusive strategies to motivate pupils’ participation in physical activities.
