Physical activity levels and its associated factors among adults in Vihiga county, Kenya.

Sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) which account for 8% of Kenya's non-communicable disease (NCD) burden. Prevalence of physical inactivity remains high globally. There is paucity of data on physical activity levels in rural Sub-Saharan Africa to infor...

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Main Authors: Miriam Bosire, Doreen Mitaru, Joanna Olale, Schiller Mbuka, Melvine Obuya, Rodgers Ochieng, Boniface Oyugi, Erastus Muniu, Joseph Mutai, Divya Parmar, Lydia Kaduka, Seeromanie Harding
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLOS Global Public Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004651
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author Miriam Bosire
Doreen Mitaru
Joanna Olale
Schiller Mbuka
Melvine Obuya
Rodgers Ochieng
Boniface Oyugi
Erastus Muniu
Joseph Mutai
Divya Parmar
Lydia Kaduka
Seeromanie Harding
author_facet Miriam Bosire
Doreen Mitaru
Joanna Olale
Schiller Mbuka
Melvine Obuya
Rodgers Ochieng
Boniface Oyugi
Erastus Muniu
Joseph Mutai
Divya Parmar
Lydia Kaduka
Seeromanie Harding
author_sort Miriam Bosire
collection DOAJ
description Sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) which account for 8% of Kenya's non-communicable disease (NCD) burden. Prevalence of physical inactivity remains high globally. There is paucity of data on physical activity levels in rural Sub-Saharan Africa to inform effective interventions. This study sought to establish levels and factors associated with physical activity in a rural population in Kenya. This was a cross-sectional study in Vihiga, a predominantly rural County in Kenya. Participants were adults aged ≥18 years drawn from four community markets. Stratified sampling by ecological zones and rural/urban status was used to select the four markets and Sampling the Next Customer Exiting the Market method for the respondents. Researcher administered e-questionnaire adapted from International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to collect data. Physical activity was calculated as the sum of all Metabolic Equivalents (MET)-minutes/week. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify correlates of physical activity. Out of the total 375 (m: 49%; f: 51%) participants, 27% were physically inactive (m: 22%; f: 32%;) and 42% engaged in low level physical activity. Majority of the respondents (75.5%) engaged in transportation-related physical activity while 32% engaged in leisure physical activities. The odds of being physically inactive were 1.93 times higher for females, 2.62 higher for those aged ≥65 years, and 3.62 higher for those with high health literacy. 48% with high health literacy were in the early working age group (15-24 years). Majority (53%) received health information from healthcare workers, especially for the 60% physically inactive participants. This study highlights the need for targeted community interventions to address the observed physical inactivity especially among women and older adults in rural Kenya.
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spelling doaj-art-01cf8d8d05be4b03bee4b7fdeaa1867e2025-08-20T02:22:25ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLOS Global Public Health2767-33752025-01-0155e000465110.1371/journal.pgph.0004651Physical activity levels and its associated factors among adults in Vihiga county, Kenya.Miriam BosireDoreen MitaruJoanna OlaleSchiller MbukaMelvine ObuyaRodgers OchiengBoniface OyugiErastus MuniuJoseph MutaiDivya ParmarLydia KadukaSeeromanie HardingSedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) which account for 8% of Kenya's non-communicable disease (NCD) burden. Prevalence of physical inactivity remains high globally. There is paucity of data on physical activity levels in rural Sub-Saharan Africa to inform effective interventions. This study sought to establish levels and factors associated with physical activity in a rural population in Kenya. This was a cross-sectional study in Vihiga, a predominantly rural County in Kenya. Participants were adults aged ≥18 years drawn from four community markets. Stratified sampling by ecological zones and rural/urban status was used to select the four markets and Sampling the Next Customer Exiting the Market method for the respondents. Researcher administered e-questionnaire adapted from International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to collect data. Physical activity was calculated as the sum of all Metabolic Equivalents (MET)-minutes/week. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify correlates of physical activity. Out of the total 375 (m: 49%; f: 51%) participants, 27% were physically inactive (m: 22%; f: 32%;) and 42% engaged in low level physical activity. Majority of the respondents (75.5%) engaged in transportation-related physical activity while 32% engaged in leisure physical activities. The odds of being physically inactive were 1.93 times higher for females, 2.62 higher for those aged ≥65 years, and 3.62 higher for those with high health literacy. 48% with high health literacy were in the early working age group (15-24 years). Majority (53%) received health information from healthcare workers, especially for the 60% physically inactive participants. This study highlights the need for targeted community interventions to address the observed physical inactivity especially among women and older adults in rural Kenya.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004651
spellingShingle Miriam Bosire
Doreen Mitaru
Joanna Olale
Schiller Mbuka
Melvine Obuya
Rodgers Ochieng
Boniface Oyugi
Erastus Muniu
Joseph Mutai
Divya Parmar
Lydia Kaduka
Seeromanie Harding
Physical activity levels and its associated factors among adults in Vihiga county, Kenya.
PLOS Global Public Health
title Physical activity levels and its associated factors among adults in Vihiga county, Kenya.
title_full Physical activity levels and its associated factors among adults in Vihiga county, Kenya.
title_fullStr Physical activity levels and its associated factors among adults in Vihiga county, Kenya.
title_full_unstemmed Physical activity levels and its associated factors among adults in Vihiga county, Kenya.
title_short Physical activity levels and its associated factors among adults in Vihiga county, Kenya.
title_sort physical activity levels and its associated factors among adults in vihiga county kenya
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004651
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