Promotion of physical activity with specific reference to non communicable disease prevention an exploratory study in urban odisha

Abstract

Physical activity (PA) is an important risk factor for prevention of non-communicable newlinediseases. Policies aiming to promote PA in the population, PA counselling and PA newlineprescription by healthcare providers and finally awareness regarding physical activity in newlinethe public and their participation are key to success for prevention of non-communicable newlinediseases. newlinePURPOSE: Urban population represents a mixed-bag of population and noncommunicable newlinedisease is reported to be more among them. This study explores three newlineimportant aspects i.e. the current physical activity participation by urban population, newlinephysical activity counselling by the healthcare providers in urban set-ups and current newlinepolicy status regarding PA promotion. newlineMETHODS: In a community based representative sample of 1221 subjects obtained newlinethrough a 30-cluster random sampling method, PA participation in urban Odisha newlinepopulation was estimated as a part of the first objective. For the second objective, 102 newlinehealthcare professionals hailing from urban Odisha were interviewed to explore the pattern newlineof PA counselling. Finally, a desk review was carried out to explore the policy status on newlinePA promotion and available policies enabling PA promotion for prevention of noncommunicable newlinediseases were reviewed. newlineRESULTS: Less than third (28.1%) of the urban Odisha population met the recommended newlinestandards of physical activity and rest (71.9%) were insufficiently physically active . newlineHowever, 40% of those people who practiced yogasanamet the recommended standards of newlinephysical activity. The mean days of walking/week were 1.98 days. The average time spend newlineon walking was found to be 17.56 min/day which is less than the recommended public newlinestandards. Caste, chronic disease, stage of change in exercise behaviour and practice of newlineyogasana are the predictors of physical activity in our study population. newlineMost (94.1%) of the responding HCPs did PA counselling either verbally or in written newlineformat. About 72% of HCPs spend adequate time explaining them to their patients about newlinevii newline