Factors affecting participation of Makerere University students in physical activity.

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to examine the factors which affect participation of Makerere University students in physical activity. The study was guided by the following objectives: To establish the indicators to physical activity participation among Makerere University students, to discover the perceived constraints/challenges to physical activity of MUK students and to establish strategies that have been/can be employed to promote PAP at Makerere University. The study was carried on using a detailed literature review thereby analyzing what various authors have written about the topic and related topics. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires adopted from the literature, interviews and observation. Only 200 students were selected using a stratified random sampling technique to represent all the students in the university. The outcomes of the study showed that 71.2% were sedentary/ not participating in any form of physical activity while 28.8% were active in sport/ physical activity. Furthermore, those who lived sedentary lives were more of females than males and the vice versa with those who were active. The availability and accessibility of sports facilities and equipment were discovered to be the most influential aspects to physical activity participation in Makerere university alongside lack of motivation and support from friends/peers. The most outstanding perceived constraints/ challenges/barriers to physical activity were; lack of time, lack of safe environment, not having right equipment to exercise and lack of motivation among others like having too much home work to do. These factors cut across both gender sides but were more pronounced in females than so in males. Much as there are all such issues that hinder physical activity in Makerere University, nothing serious has been done to combat such and promote physical activity.