Physical activity patterns in Mozambique: Urban/rural differences during epidemiological transition

• Published in: Preventive medicine Vol. 55; no. 5; pp. 444 - 449
• Main Authors: Padrão, Patrícia, Damasceno, Albertino, Silva-Matos, Carla, Prista, António, Lunet, Nuno
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2012
• Subjects: Adult; Africa; Chronic Disease - prevention & control; Confidence intervals; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise; Female; Health Behavior; Health Surveys; Health Transition; Humans; Internal Medicine; Male; Middle Aged; Mozambique; Mozambique - epidemiology; Physical activity; Poisson Distribution; Population Surveillance; Prevalence; Regression Analysis; Residence Characteristics; Rural communities; Rural Population; STEPS; Surveillance; Urban Population; World Health Organization; Mozambique; Mozambique; Physical activity; Africa; STEPS
• ISSN: 0091-7435; 1096-0260; 1096-0260
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.08.006

To assess the socio-demographic determinants of physical activity, by intensity and domain, across urban and rural areas in Mozambican adults. A national representative sample (n=3323) of subjects aged 25–64years was evaluated in 2005 following the World Health Organization (WHO) Stepwise Approach to Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance (STEPS), which includes the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. We computed prevalences, and age- and education-adjusted prevalence ratios (PR), with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Most of the Mozambicans reported a high physical activity level, according to the WHO criteria (urban women: 83.2%, 95%CI 77.4, 89.0; rural women: 93.2%, 95%CI 89.0, 97.3; urban men: 78.9%, 95%CI 74.7, 83.1; rural men: 91.6%, 95%CI 85.5, 97.6). The prevalences of <75min/week of vigorous activities were higher in urban settings (women: PR=2.21; men: PR=2.28) and increased with education, regardless of place of residence (PR ranging between 1.75 and 5.72 for more vs. less educated subjects). Work activities were the most important contributor to the overall physical activity, followed by transport. Most of the Mozambicans reported to be physically active. Vigorous activities were less common in urban areas and among the more educated subjects, depicting an ongoing shift to more sedentary behaviours in this setting. ► We analysed data from a sample of adult Mozambicans using the STEPS methodology. ► Most of the Mozambicans reported a high physical activity level. ► Vigorous activities were less common in urban areas and in more educated people. ► Recreation activities had a negligible contribution to overall physical activity. ► Less than 4% did not meet the minimum physical activity recommended by the WHO.