Non-adherence to the World Health Organization’s physical activity recommendations and associated factors among healthy adults in urban centers of Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Physical inactivity is a major risk-factor of non-communicable diseases. The World Health Organization has set physical activity recommendations for adults to reduce physical inactivity and its consequences. However, 1.4 billion adults are non-adherent to the recommendation worldwide. The prevalence of non-adherence to this recommendation and its predictors has not been assessed in urban Ethiopia. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of non-adherence to physical activity recommendations and identify its associated factors among healthy adults in urban centers of Southwest Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was employed from May to June 2021, involving 1191 adults in urban centers of Southwest Ethiopia. Data was collected using Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with non-adherence to physical activity recommendations using 95% confidence interval of adjusted odds ratio at P-value of < 0.05.Overall, 61.2% of participants were non-adherent to physical activity recommendations. Older age (AOR = 6.6; 95%CI (2.3–19)), female sex (AOR = 6.1; 95%CI (3.5–10.5)), lower educational status (AOR = 0.5; 95%CI (.28–0.93)), less community engagement (AOR = 2.7;95% CI (1.3–5.5)), lower level of happiness (AOR = 4.7; 95%CI (1.3–16.8)) and physical inactivity of family members (AOR = 2.5; 95%CI (1.4–4.3)) were associated with non-adherence. The prevalence of non-adherence to physical activity recommendations in the study area is high. Age, sex, educational status, community engagement, level of happiness and physical inactivity of family members were predictors of non-adherence to the recommendations. Interventions have to target females and older adults. Community participation and family based physical activity have to be advocated to avert the consequences of physical inactivity.

Moderating Effects of Authentic Happiness on the Relationship Between Health-seeking Behaviour and Treatment Adherence Among Patients with Hypertension

“…There is a dearth of literature on the link between happiness and patients' treatment adherence. A community-based study showed that nonadherence to health recommendations such as physical activity had a link to lower level of happiness, [23] an association which the present study equally showed. Patients who reported higher levels of happiness also showed greater level of adherence to treatment regimen.…”

Physical activity and diet for Type 2 Diabetes reduction among older people living with HIV in Harare

“…To enable this determination of adequacies of self-care physical activity and healthy diet, yardsticks have been set by the WHO guidelines for physical activity and sedentary life ( 2020b ) as well as studies that have shown the effectiveness of culturally modified Mediterranean diet to reduce Type 2 Diabetes risk by Duncan et al ( 2020 ) and Bavaro et al ( 2021 ). Despite the set standards, for physical activity and diet, a study in Ethiopia found that 61% of older PLWH do not adhere to WHO ( 2020b ) standards of physical activity because of a lack of participation in community engagement activities (Zenu et al 2023 ). In light of the inadequate physical activity and dietary patterns by older PLWH reported in Ethiopia by Zenu et al ( 2023 ) and Uganda by Wright et al ( 2021 ) respectively, this study seeks to provide a description of current practices in Harare which enables focused health education where there are inadequacies.…”

“…Despite the set standards, for physical activity and diet, a study in Ethiopia found that 61% of older PLWH do not adhere to WHO ( 2020b ) standards of physical activity because of a lack of participation in community engagement activities (Zenu et al 2023 ). In light of the inadequate physical activity and dietary patterns by older PLWH reported in Ethiopia by Zenu et al ( 2023 ) and Uganda by Wright et al ( 2021 ) respectively, this study seeks to provide a description of current practices in Harare which enables focused health education where there are inadequacies. Furthermore, studies that have described self-care practices in older PLWH have been conducted in other contexts, creating a paucity of literature from Harare urban district.…”