Perception of Regular Physical Activities and Factors Affecting Physical Activities Among Adult Government Office Worker in Adama Town, Ethiopia: Qualitative Study

Abstract

Introduction: Physical activity has been traditionally defined as any bodily movement produced by contraction of skeletal muscle that substantially increases energy expenditure, although the intensity and duration can vary substantially. Physical activities prevent non communicable diseases. Objectives: To assess perception of regular physical activities and factors affecting physical activities among adult government office worker in Adama town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: Phenomenological study design was employed. 10 Government office workers form four government offices and 1 Key informant from government office and 9 Physical exercise trainer from sport (Gyms) training center were interview using in-depth interview techniques. The sample selected purposefully and randomly. Questionnaires were prepared and modified using WHO Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) analysis Guide in English and then translated into two local languages (Amharic and Afan Oromo). Audio record was used and recoded the the interview of 20 sample populations. Data was reduced using the language the interviewee used and then translated into English. Data imported into Open code 4.02 softwares and categorized into summaries. Socio-demographic data were entered into SPSS version 21. Thematic area were identified and analyzed based on the themes. Result: a total 20 study participants (10 Government office worker and10 Key Informant) were interviewed. All participants have good perception of physical activities. 7 of workers have moderately physical active (fulfill globally recommended physical activity rate) with 150 minutes of physical activity performance per week. The rest 3 workers have insufficient physical activities which is less than 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Factor like laziness, overloaded by office work, lack of self-confidence in doing physical activity, lack of awareness about physical activity, place factor, poor time management, lack of communication and economic status of workers were found as behaviors or factors affecting doing of physical activities among government office workers. Conclusion and recommendations: there is high number of physical activity insufficiency among workers and there are large numbers of factors that affect physical activity doing of workers. Therefore, the government should work on these factors to make worker healthy and productive.