Factors influencing participation of elderly people in physical activities in Adjuman district, Uganda

Abstract

This study assessed the factors influencing physical activity participation among the elderly people who are of 60 years and above. It presents the different factors both internal and external factors that influenced elderly people’s participation in physical activity either positively or negatively. It also examined the type of physical activities for these categories which are grouped as house hold physical activity, transport physical activity and occupation physical activity.Their preferences was group activity,frequencies of participation was minimum and some people do not take part at all. The benefits associated with participation diverse which includes improvement in health status, ability to meet the daily physical demands,sociolazation etc ,the strategies to improve participation in physical activities for the elderly people which also includes sensitization, enforcement of policies which which are already in place and creation of new policies etc. A qualitative research approach was used as the research method for this study using interview guide, unstructured questionnaire and field notes developed during data collection. The research findings indicated that various factors contributed to physical activity participation by the elderly which are either internal or external.Health status of an individual, economic status, attitudes of an individual as the internal factors and availability of facilities and equipments, cultural settings etc as external factors. The factors contributes either positively or negatively and made some recommendations to the government, nongovernmental organizations, education institutions and private persons to take active part in promotion of physical activity for the elderly people. The recommendations includes enforcement of the existing policies, creation of new policies etc