Physical activity levels and perceived benefits and barriers to physical activity in HIV-infected women living in the deep south of the United States^†

Abstract

Engaging in regular physical activity (PA) is important in maintaining health and increasing the overall quality of life of people living with HIV (PLWH). The Deep South of the USA is known for its high rate of sedentary behavior although data on the activity levels and perceptions of the benefits and barriers to exercise in women living with HIV in the Deep South are lacking. Understanding the perceived benefits and barriers to exercise can guide the development of PA interventions. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the PA levels and perceived benefits and barriers to exercise associated with both age and depression level in a group of HIV+ women living in the Deep South. We recruited a total of 50 participants from a cohort site for the Women’s Interagency HIV Study. Depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and benefits/barriers to exercise were measured using the Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale (EBBS). We measured PA both subjectively and objectively using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and a Fitbit physical activity monitor, respectively. Our sample was predominantly African American (96%) and the mean ±SD age, BMI, and CES-D score were 42 ±8.8 years, 36.6 ±11.5 kg/m2, and 15.6 ±11.4, respectively. Both subjective and objective measures of PA indicated that our participants were sedentary. The greatest perceived benefit to exercise was physical performance and the greatest barrier to exercise was physical exertion. Higher overall perceived benefits were reported by women ≥43 years and women reporting higher levels of depression. There was no difference in overall barriers associated with age and depression level, but women with depression felt more fatigued by exercise. The results of this study can be helpful when designing and implementing PA interventions in women living with HIV in the Deep South.

Physical activity correlates in people living with HIV/AIDS: a systematic review of 45 studies

“…Qualitative research in people living with HIV/AIDS exploring the perceived barriers for physical activity participation indicated that physical exertion, lack of social support, time and financial constraints and the distance to facilities are considered the most important and reported barriers [26,27,28]. Also uncertainty about the future [28], avoiding stigma [29], adverse weather conditions and domestic abuse and crime [27] are reported in this population.…”

Reliability, Validity, and Gender Invariance of the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale: An Emerging Evidence for a More Concise Research Tool

“…The EBBS research instrument, as employed by El-Ansari and Lovell [ 13 ], has been extensively used to investigate the perceived benefits and barriers of exercise in a range of settings, populations, and conditions, for instance in Mexican-American women [ 14 ], midlife Australian women [ 15 ], older African women [ 16 ], Iranian women [ 17 ], in physical disabilities and chronic health conditions [ 18 ], in patients with multiple sclerosis [ 19 ] or with HIV [ 20 ], in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovarian syndrome and as part of a randomized controlled trial [ 21 ], as part of the investigation into physiological and perceptual responses to Latin partnered social dance [ 22 ], in relation with cardiac rehabilitation [ 23 , 24 ], in parents and preschool age children [ 25 , 26 ], and as part of the investigation of the perception of a yoga-based fall prevention program in older adults [ 27 ]. The above studies have implemented the EBBS as part of the research, making reference to the original validation study by Sechrist, Walker, and Pender in 1987 [ 28 ].…”

Behavioral and Physical Activity Interventions for HAND

“…Webel and colleagues reported that an Ohio cohort of persons living with HIV tended to exercise regularly, but the mean level of physical activity was lower in women than men, and below recommended levels (i.e., 150 min per week of moderate-tovigorous physical activity) (Webel et al 2015). A sample of 50 African-American females living with HIV from the southern United States exhibited low levels of physical activity, with only one person exceeding 150 min per week of moderate-tovigorous physical activity (Rehm and Konkle-Parker 2016). In contrast, two-thirds of a cohort of people living with HIV from Vietnam were rated as physically active on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, although this group did include rural participants with potentially more endogenous physical activity than urban residents (Dang et al 2018).…”