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

Miriam Bosire, Doreen Mitaru, Joanna Olale, Schiller Mbuka, Melvine Obuya, Rodgers Ochieng, Boniface Oyugi, Erastus Muniu, Joseph Mutai, Divya Parmar, Lydia Kaduka and Seeromanie Harding

PLOS Global Public Health, 2025, vol. 5, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pgph00:0004651

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004651

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