Programas de promoção de atividade física no Brasil

Abstract

With the consolidation of the scientific knowledge on the benefits of physical activity for health, and the dissemination of this knowledge, a growing number of governmental and non-governmental health promotion strategies have been launched, with particular emphasis on physical activity promotion ones. In Brazil, this is particularly true, and the Brazilian model of health promotion through physical activity is a model for other countries. The Physical Activity Network funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Health was evaluated as part of this thesis, in a study that included interviews to 748 coordinators of physical activity interventions in all regions of the country. They were interviewed about offer, utilization, coverage, impact/result, structure and process indicators. We then listed all cities from the Rio Grande do Sul state which were funded through the network, and identified Panambi as the only one who was funded in every single year of the cycle (2005-2009). We then conducted a population-based study in Panambi including 1,158 adults in order to evaluate the association between exposure to physical activity promotion strategies and physical activity levels. Finally, we carried out a narrative literature review on the evaluation indicators presented in articles about the main physical activity promotion strategies in Brazil, including the analysis of their logic models. As a general result of these studies, it can be said that Brazil is treading a promising regarding the promotion of physical activity, but a systematic evaluation processes should be the target of reflection in order that interventions have the greatest potential for effectiveness and impact.