Active commuting in adolescents in northern Mozambique: Influence of the context

Active commuting to school is one of the most effective and cost-efficient strategies for increasing physical activity levels and advancing toward the recommendations for physical activity in adolescents of the World Health Organization.

This study analyzed the prevalence of active commuting to school among adolescents in northern Mozambique in relation to sex, age, and area of residence (province and type of setting) through the administration of the Active Transport and Physical Activity Assessment Tool for African School Children questionnaire to 919 adolescents aged 13-17 from the provinces of Nampula, Cabo Delgado, and Niassa.

Overall, 88.6% of adolescents actively commuted to school (either on foot or by bicycle), with no significant differences by sex or age. However, there were variations based on place of residence, with a prevalence of 98% in rural areas compared to 77.7% in urban areas; Niassa had the highest rates of active commuting compared to the other provinces.

Active commuting is the most common mode of travel to school among adolescents in northern Mozambique, although this appears to be driven more by a lack of alternatives than by a deliberate health-conscious choice. Therefore, it is imperative that authorities design intersectoral public policies to promote safe environments and improve travel conditions for adolescents in northern Mozambique.