Abstract:
Background: Globally, more than one-fourth of adults (27.5%) failing to meet the World
Health Organization recommended levels of physical activity for health. Physical inactivity
is one of the leading risk factors for premature death and non-communicable diseases.
Hence, this study has paramount importance to organizations working on non communicable diseases, which serve as a source of information.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of physical inactivity and associated
factors among adults in Ambo town, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2023.
Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 5, 2023 to
February 5, 2023 in Ambo town, Ethiopia. A total of 598 adult participants aged 18-64 years
were selected using multistage sampling techniques. The level of physical activity of
participants was measured by global physical activity questionnaires version -2 adapted
from World Health Organization. The data were collected using face-to-face interviewer administered structured questionnaire. The collected data were entered into Epi data version
3.1, and then exported to SPSS version 20 for more data checking, cleaning, and analysis.
Bi-variable logistic regression analysis was done and variables with p-value < 0.25 were
considered as candidate for multivariable logistic regression analysis. Adjusted Odds Ratios
and their 95% confidence intervals were estimated to identify the presence and strength of
associations, and statistical significance was declared at a p-value <0.05.
Result: The prevalence of physical inactivity was 16.6 (95% CI: 13.7, 19.4). Being female
(AOR=2.25 ;95% CI:1.28- 3.98 ), age group from (51-64) years (AOR =2.49; 95% CI:1.04-
5.95 ), ever married (AOR=3.26; 95% CI:1.27-8.398 ), poor knowledge of physical activity
guideline (AOR=2.885; 95% CI: 1.37-5.75) and sitting more than two hours a day
(AOR=2.85885 ; 95% CI: 1.06- 7.67) were significantly associated with physical inactivity.
Conclusion: This study concluded that even though the prevalence of physical inactivity is
low compared to other studies, the highest percentage of physically inactive individuals was
identified in the age group of 51-64 (39.7%). Ambo health office and other stakeholders
should pay special attention to improving the physical activity of older age group and female
adults by promoting active lifestyles and community based physical activity programs.
