Abstract
Background: The youth's lack of knowledge and misconception on Physical Activity (PA) and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) risk factors aid the growing burden of NCDs globally. This study explored the knowledge and perception of youth in a low-resource community in the Western Cape Province. Methods: A qualitative methodological approach was used for data collection, using a qualitative exploratory study design. Convenience sampling was used to select participants, aged 18-35 years old from Vrygrond in the Western Cape Province. Focused group discussions were steered by means of a semi-structured interview questionnaire to guide the discussion about perceptions and knowledge of PA and NCDs risk factors. Discussions were analysed using Atlas.Ti8. Results: A total of 22 female youth participated in this study. The majority of the participants were single (86.3%), unemployed (63.6%) and secondary schooling (72.7%) of the highest level of education. Results indicated that the participants had little knowledge about PA, but lacked sufficient knowledge with regards to NCDs. Time constraints, lack of interest, low self-esteem, lack of awareness, safety, and financial constraints, knowledge deficit, parental influence, peer pressure, and poverty were seen as a barrier to physical activity and NCDs risk factor. Conclusion: Findings from this study could formulate a policy at the provincial and national level, to provide cost-effective and sustainable educative program as an intervention which addresses youth misconception on physical activity and NCDs risks factor in the 21st century, especially among female youth residing in a low resource community in Western Cape.
Highlights
Non-communicable disease is a long duration illness that emanates from genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioural characteristics put together [1]
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) will account for five times as many deaths as communicable diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) by 2030 [6, 7] The rise in these NCDs usually manifests during mid-to-late adulthood and these NCDs are caused by four common, modifiable risk factors that are generally adopted earlier in life [8, 9]
This study adopted an exploratory qualitative approach with the use of focused group discussions (FGDs) to gain insight into the experience and meaning that female youth participants from a low-resourced community in the Western Cape Province ascribed as their understanding and perception of Physical Activity (PA) and NCDs
Summary
Non-communicable disease is a long duration illness that emanates from genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioural characteristics put together [1]. NCDs will account for five times as many deaths as communicable diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) by 2030 [6, 7] The rise in these NCDs usually manifests during mid-to-late adulthood and these NCDs are caused by four common, modifiable risk factors that are generally adopted earlier in life [8, 9]. The modifiable risk factors include tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and harmful use of alcohol, which could lead to overweight and obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol [10 - 13]. The youth's lack of knowledge and misconception on Physical Activity (PA) and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) risk factors aid the growing burden of NCDs globally.
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