Physical Activity Status Among Women Referred to Health Centers in Izeh, Iran

Abstract

Background: Over the past decades, numerous well-established studies have reported the benefits of physical activity including physical health, obesity prevention and psychosocial health. Despite all these advantages, many people still engage to little leisuretime physical activity. Objectives: The present study focused on the status of physical activity among women referred to three health centers on the basis of the trans theoretical model. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 310 randomly selected females referred to health centers in Izeh, Iran, in 2014. To collect data, a valid and reliable (content validity index (CVI) = 0.87, content validity ratio (CVR) = 0.9 and Cronbach's alpha level = 0.87) physical activity questionnaire was used. It included items on self-efficacy, benefits, processes of change, and barriers. To analyze the data, statistical tests including t-test, analysis of variance, chi-squared and correlation were implemented using SPSS 16 software. Results with a P < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: More than 50% of the sample population was at the pre-contemplation stage. The mean age of females in this study was 28.7 ± 6.61. The mean scores of constructs of the model among females in this study showed that there was a non-significant relationship in performing physical activities and females' jobs (Housewife, practitioner) and their education level and also their husbands (P > 0.05). Except for the structure of the barriers, women who had employed husbands reported more barriers to do physical activity (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Given the importance of physical activity, and given that most women are at the pre-contemplation stage of the trans theoretical model, it seems necessary to devise educational interventional plans for the promotion of physical activities among women referred to health centers.