Physical Activity Interventions in Latin America A Systematic Review
Background: Recommendations for physical activity in the Guide to Community Preventive Services (theCommunity Guide) have not been systematically examined or applied in developingcountries such as those in Latin America. The aim of this systematic review was to assess thecurrent evidence base concerning interventions to increase physical activity in Latin America using a modified Community Guide process and to develop evidence-based recommendations for physical activity interventions. Methods: In 2006, a literature review of both peer-reviewed and non–peer-reviewed literature in Portuguese, Spanish, and English was carried out to identify physical activity interventionsconducted in community settings in Latin America. Intervention studies were identified bysearching ten databases using 16 search terms related to physical activity, fitness, health promotion, and community interventions. All intervention studies related to physical activity were summarized into tables. Six reviewers independently classified the intervention studies by the categories used in the Community Guide and screened the studies for inclusion in a systematic abstraction process to assess the strength of the evidence. Five trained researchers conducted the abstractions. Results: The literature search identified 903 peer-reviewed articles and 142 Brazilian theses relatedto physical activity, of which 19 were selected for full abstraction. Only for school-basedphysical education classes was the strength of the evidence from Latin America sufficientto support a practice recommendation.Conclusions: This systematic review highlights the need for rigorous evaluation of promising interventionsto increase physical activity in Latin America. Implementation and maintenance ofschool physical education programs and policies should be strongly encouraged topromote the health of Latin American children.(Am J Prev Med 2008;34(3):224–233) © 2008 American Journal of Preventive Medicine