Adherence to 24-Hour Movement Guidelines in Low-Income Brazilian Preschoolers and Associations with Demographic Correlates

Background: The importance of movement behaviours for health is well known, although few studies have examined the adherence to movement guidelines in low-income preschoolers from a middle-income country, as Brazil. This study reports the proportion of preschoolers meeting the 24-hour movement guidelines and investigates its associations with demographic correlates in Brazilian low-income preschoolers. Methods: Two hundred and seventy preschoolers (132 boys, means age = 3.97 ± 0.80) provided physical activity (PA) data (Actigraph wGT3X). Sleep duration, screen time, and social correlates were parent-reported. Preschoolers were classified as compliant/not compliant with the 24-hour movement guidelines. Relationships between compliance with movement behaviours guidelines and demographic correlates were calculated using a network analysis (Mplus 8.0; Rstudio). Results: Preschoolers were active (273.52 ± 62.08 minutes/day of total PA), though moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) time was below the guideline (58.68 ± 22.51 minutes/day); spent more than the recommended 60minutes/day on screen time (169.91 ± 97.07minutes/day); and slept less than 10 hours per night (9.44 ± 1.12 hours/day). Only 3% of the sample complied with the guidelines. PA showed the highest compliance (43%), compared to sleep duration (35%) and screen time (15%). Male sex was related to adherence to MVPA recommendations, while female sex, with adherence to total PA recommendations. Child´s primary caregivers was the most important centrality indicator in the network. Conclusion: Only 3% of the assessed preschoolers are compliant with the 24-hour movement behaviours guidelines. Strategies to promote adherence to movement behaviours among low-income preschoolers should consider child´s primary caregivers to support movement behaviours.