Abstract
BackgroundPhysical inactivity accounts for more than 3 million deaths worldwide, and is implicated in causing 6% of coronary heart diseases, 7% of diabetes, and 10% of colon or breast cancer. Globally, research has shown that modifying four commonly shared risky behaviours, including poor nutrition, tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, and physical inactivity, can reduce occurrence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Risk factor surveillance through population-based periodic surveys, has been identified as an effective strategy to inform public health interventions in NCD control. The stepwise approach to surveillance (STEPS) survey is one such initiative, and Kenya carried out its first survey in 2015. This study sought to describe the physical inactivity risk factors from the findings of the Kenya STEPS survey.MethodsThis study employed countrywide representative survey administered between April and June 2015. A three stage cluster sampling design was used to select clusters, households and eligible individuals. All adults between 18 and 69 years in selected households were eligible. Data on demographic, behavioural, and biochemical characteristics were collected. Prevalence of physical inactivity was computed. Logistic regression used to explore factors associated with physical inactivity.ResultsA total of 4500 individuals consented to participate from eligible 6000 households. The mean age was 40.5 (39.9–41.1) years, with 51.3% of the respondents being female. Overall 346 (7.7%) of respondents were classified as physically inactive. Physical inactivity was associated with female gender, middle age (30–49 years), and increasing level of education, increasing wealth index and low levels of High Density Lipoproteins (HDL).ConclusionA modest prevalence of physical inactivity slightly higher than in neighbouring countries was found in this study. Gender, age, education level and wealth index are evident areas that predict physical inactivity which can be focused on to develop programs that would work towards reducing physical inactivity among adults in Kenya.
Highlights
Physical inactivity accounts for more than 3 million deaths worldwide, and is implicated in causing 6% of coronary heart diseases, 7% of diabetes, and 10% of colon or breast cancer
Epidemiological research shows that 15–20% of the overall risk for coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, breast cancer is due to physical inactivity, which leads to fractured hips in older persons [2]
This was significantly higher than in the neighbouring country, Uganda with 4.3% prevalence of physical inactivity reported in the recent stepwise approach to surveillance (STEPS) survey [27]
Summary
Physical inactivity accounts for more than 3 million deaths worldwide, and is implicated in causing 6% of coronary heart diseases, 7% of diabetes, and 10% of colon or breast cancer. Physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality causing approximately 3 million preventable deaths worldwide [1]. Epidemiological research shows that 15–20% of the overall risk for coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, breast cancer is due to physical inactivity, which leads to fractured hips in older persons [2]. Regular physical activity is a protective factor against unhealthy weight gain [5, 10] For these reasons, the World Health Organization (WHO) passed resolution WHA55.23 in 2002 [11] and formulated a global strategy to address physical activity and health in 2004 [12]. A 10% relative reduction in prevalence of insufficient physical activity was set as one of nine goals to be met by 2020 in the Global Action Plan 2013–2020 for NCDs [13]
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