2and the alarming prevalence of both obesity and physical inactivity in South Africans, 3 even from more disadvantaged communities, 4 there are limited data on successful physical activity interventions in preventing and reducing NCDs in these settings. Physical activity has been linked to the prevention and reduction of these diseases, 5 and the problem of inactivity has been demonstrated throughout the life-course in South Africans, with only 50% of South African secondary school learners reporting participation in weekly physical education. 6School-based physical activity interventions are one of the many strategies employed in both developed and developing settings to address the rise of NCDs,7,8 although there is limited literature from developing settings. Within school-based interventions, teachers play a pivotal role in the implementation of these interventions and are acknowledged as an important source of information regarding perceptions of barriers to and factors facilitating school-based physical activity interventions 9 and the promotion of physical activity in the school environment.10 orIgInal research arTIcle evaluation of a school-based physical activity intervention in alexandra Township abstract objectives. Non-communicable diseases and limited participation in school physical education have become increasing concerns in South Africa. In response to these concerns, a schoolbased physical activity intervention, Healthnutz, was implemented in three primary schools in Alexandra Township, Johannesburg. Evaluation of Healthnutz included assessing its feasibility and acceptability, and short-term changes in learners' physical fitness, knowledge and attitudes. Methods.To assess feasibility and acceptability, a situational analysis and focus groups with teachers and programme monitors were conducted. Pre-post fitness testing (3-month interval) was conducted with learners, and a questionnaire assessed changes in learners' knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and perceived barriers to physical activity, in control and intervention schools.results. At implementation, teachers identified the need for more physical activity in the school environment and were positive about Healthnutz. Follow-up focus group discussions suggested that it was positively impacting teachers, learners and the school in general. Scores for sit and reach (p<0.001), sit ups (p<0.02) and shuttle run (p<0.0001) improved significantly in in-

Qualitative evaluation of a physical activity-based chronic disease prevention program in a low-income, rural SouthAfrican setting