Constraints to Participation in Physical Activityduring Covid-19 Pandemic: Environmental Implicationsin University of Nigeria Nsukka Campus Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

The global increase in physical inactivity has been implicated for high death rates from non communicable. COVID-19 presents series of constraints to participation in physical activity (PA) to people ranging from intrapersonal, interpersonal and structural constraints. This study assessed constraints to participation in PA during covid-19 pandemic and the environmental implications in University of Nigeria Nsukka Campus Enugu State, Nigeria. A cross sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students during COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (n =370) aged 18 to 30years (22.88±3.62) were recruited online through their individual school e-mail addresses. Physical activity was measured using International Physical Activity Questionnaire short-form (IPAQ-SF/LF) while constraints to PA during COVID-19 pandemic were assessed with COVID-19 scale. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whiney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman correlation. In respect to PA level, 31.1%, 63.2% 5.7% of the participants had low, moderate and high PA Level respectively. No significant difference was found in categorized Metabolic Equivalent Task (MET) values (low, moderate and high) and overall MET value across all the demographic groups. Intrapersonal, interpersonal, structural and overall constraints were significantly associated with gender while structural constraints were significantly different across course level of participants. A significant association was found between low, moderate and high PA MET Values with the Total PA METs value. The findings reveal how COVID-19 influenced PAlevels of individuals thus provides evidence to inform the university administration and policymakers to develop polices to enhance PA Levels of the undergraduate students and the masses during such future pandemic.

Physical activity and depressive symptoms during the fifth wave of COVID-19 pandemic: Implication for public policy and administrators

“…Due to the shutdown of public spaces during the lockdown, including fitness centers, previously active students were no longer able to use PA facilities. In addition, environmental issues and the impact of urbanization, as noted by, [ 47 ] decreased the amount of space available for PA in most homes, which had a negative impact on PA behavior. The 8-month strike that forced students to stay at home may also have contributed to the decline in PA.…”