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Original Article
Socio-demographic Determinants of Low Physical Activity in Peruvian Adults: Results of a Population-based Survey Performed in 2017-2018
Akram Hernández-Vásquez1orcid, Rodrigo Vargas-Fernández2orcid
Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health 2021;54(6):461-470.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.21.418
Published online: November 7, 2021
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1Centro de Excelencia en Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales en Salud, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru

2Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru

Corresponding author: Akram Hernández-Vásquez Centro de Excelencia en Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales en Salud, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, 550 La Fontana Avenue, La Molina, Lima 15024, Peru E-mail: ahernandez@usil.edu.pe
• Received: July 26, 2021   • Accepted: October 30, 2021

Copyright © 2021 The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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  • Objectives
    The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of low physical activity (PA) in Peruvian adults and to identify associated factors.
  • Methods
    An analytical study was performed using data from the 2017-2018 Nutritional Food Surveillance by Life Stages survey. The outcome variable was low PA (yes or no), assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form. Prevalence ratios were estimated as a measure of association.
  • Results
    Among the 1045 persons included in the analysis, the age-standardized prevalence of low PA was 61.9%. The adjusted model showed that being female and migrating from a rural to an urban area in the last 5 years were associated with a higher probability of having low PA than males and individuals who had not migrated, while residing in rural highlands and jungle areas was associated with a reduced probability of having low PA compared to people residing in other geographic domains.
  • Conclusions
    Being a female and migration from a rural to an urban area in the last 5 years were associated with a higher likelihood of having low PA. Therefore, promotion and prevention strategies related to PA are required, especially in the female and migrant populations.
Physical inactivity is a global health problem that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cancer, and impairs health-related quality of life [1-4]. Worldwide, more than a quarter of the population does not get enough physical activity (PA), with a 4.2% increase in the number of people between 2010 and 2016 [5]; furthermore, physical inactivity is more prevalent among females and in countries with high income inequality [6]. In 2019, low PA caused more than 800 000 deaths and generated 12.7 million years of life lost due to premature mortality, 3.1 million years lived with a disability, and 15.7 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), making it the 18th leading cause of DALYs globally [7]. In addition, physical inactivity generates high health costs due to a higher incidence of preventable diseases [8], mainly in low-income and middle-income countries, in which there is a high burden of disease and mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) [9,10].
Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) constitutes one of the least developed regions with one of the highest levels of urbanization in the world. Approximately 20% of inhabitants live in overcrowded conditions, with high levels of crime and violence in urban areas, high levels of poverty, and a lack of leisure-time PA facilities [11]. In this context, LAC has the highest prevalence of low PA compared to other regions of the world [5] and is considered one of the regions with the highest burden of disease [12] and economic burden [13] due to NCDs. In addition to this problem, in middle and low-income countries such as Peru, the effectiveness, implementation, and availability of policies related to PA through promotion and prevention programs are low to moderate [14].
In Peru, there are different patterns of physical inactivity due to the characteristics of the areas or regions where people live. Thus, in urban areas, it has been reported that people have a higher prevalence of physical inactivity due to the greater amount of motorized transport and higher consumption of carbohydrates and sugary foods compared to residents of rural areas, who have a high prevalence of PA related to manual labor [15,16] and transportation on foot due to the lack of paved roads, bicycle paths, and recreational spaces [15]. In addition, it has been observed that the female population—with associations with low socioeconomic level and overweight—has a higher prevalence of physical inactivity, regardless of the region in which the individual resides [17,18]. Although some previous studies have investigated physical inactivity in the Peruvian population [17-20], it is necessary to obtain updated information, since lifestyles may change over time due to migration, increased urbanization, and a lack of promotion of good health practices [21].
Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence of low PA in the Peruvian population and to identify associated factors.
Subjects and Data Source
This was an analytical, cross-sectional, population-based study of the 2017-2018 Food and Nutrition Surveillance by Life Stages survey (VIANEV: acronym in Spanish), which was conducted by the National Food and Nutrition Center of the National Institute of Health of Peru [22]. The 2017-2018 VIANEV survey was representative at the country level, as well as Metropolitan Lima, and urban and rural areas. The survey sample included adults aged 18 years to 59 years old residing in households from a subsample of the National Household Survey (ENAHO: acronym in Spanish) during the first quarter of 2017. The sampling was probabilistic, multistage (at the level of clusters and dwellings), and with a random start. The level of inference is at the national, urban, rural and Metropolitan Lima (capital of Peru) levels. Further details of the methodology can be found in the Technical Report of the 2017-2018 VIANEV survey [22].
The 2017-2018 VIANEV survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews by trained staff according to a standardized protocol. A pilot study was also conducted in order to strengthen the application of the techniques and adjust the procedures conducted by the trained personnel [22].
The survey included a total of 1073 subjects, of whom 1045 were included in the present study according to the following inclusion criteria: (1) subjects aged 18 years to 59 years, and (2) complete data on PA levels. The exclusion criterion was incomplete data on socioeconomic, demographic, and health status information. Details on the sample selection procedure are shown in Figure 1.
Variables

Outcome variable

The main study variable was the level of PA, assessed by means of the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The IPAQ is widely used in different countries and socioeconomic contexts. This questionnaire collects self-reported information on PA and sedentary behavior of people aged 15-69 years. There is a short and long version of this questionnaire, with the short version assessing 3 characteristics of PA: frequency (days per week), duration (time per day) and intensity (mild or walking, moderate, or vigorous). Intensity is recorded using metabolic equivalent-task units (METs) per minute and per week, in which walking has 3.3 METs, moderate activity has 4.0 METs, and vigorous activity has 8.0 METs; the total level of activity is calculated by multiplying each MET value by the number of days per week and the time in minutes of each activity. PA is divided into 3 categories (low, moderate, and high), depending on the intensity, frequency, and duration of the activity performed [23]. For the present study, individuals were classified as having low PA (yes or no), which was defined as reporting no PA or fewer than 3 days of vigorous activity with less than 20 min/d, fewer than 5 days of moderate activity and/or walking less than 30 min/d, or fewer than 5 days of any combination of walking and moderate or vigorous activities achieving less than 600 METs-min/wk [19,22].

Explanatory variables

We adopted the conceptual framework of Pettee Gabriel et al. [24] to determine the explanatory variables. These variables have been identified in previous studies as being associated with PA [17,19,20,25]. The explanatory variables considered in the analysis were: sex (male or female), age groups (18-29, 30-39, 40-49, or 50-59 years), educational level (up to primary, secondary, or higher education), ethnicity (non-native or native), self-reporting of the presence of chronic diseases (yes or no), self-reporting of the presence of any physical, psychological or cognitive limitation (yes or no), geographic domain of residence (urban coast, rural coast, urban highlands, rural highlands, urban in jungle, rural areas in jungle, or Metropolitan Lima), poverty level (extreme poverty, non-extreme poverty, or non-poverty), having worked in the last week (yes or no), migration to an urban area in the last 5 years (yes or no), and altitude above sea level of household residence (0-499, 500-1499, 1500-2999, or ≥3000 meters). In terms of geography, the coast is the region that borders the Pacific Ocean and is home to the main cities of Peru; the highlands are made up of the area of the Andes mountain range; and the jungle is the Amazon region, which has the greatest biodiversity in Peru.
Statistical Analysis
Data management and analysis were performed using Stata version 14 (StataCorp., College Station, TX, USA). The 2017-2018 VIANEV survey databases were merged with the ENAHO 2017 databases, which are freely available on the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI: acronym in Spanish) website (http://iinei.inei.gob.pe/microdatos/), using the merge command according to the identifiers of stratum, conglomerate, dwelling, household, and individual (Figure 1). The expansion factor and sample specifications of the 2017-2018 VIANEV survey design were taken into account for all analyses using the svy command. A p-value <0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.
The variables of interest were described using absolute frequencies and their weighted proportions together with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The age-standardized prevalence of PA level was calculated using the World Health Organization population (https://www.who.int/healthinfo/paper31.pdf). The Rao-Scott chi-square statistical test was used to evaluate differences between the variables of interest. To evaluate the magnitude of associations of the independent variables with the level of PA, a generalized linear model of the Poisson family with log link function was performed to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) together with their 95% CIs. A bivariate model was constructed reporting the crude PRs, and all variables that obtained a statistically significant p-value (p<0.20) were then included in the adjusted model. Multivariable analysis was performed to obtain adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs). Likewise, the collinearity of the independent variables was evaluated using the variance inflation factor and a correlation matrix to detect and exclude highly correlated variables; no significant collinearity or correlation was found.
Ethics Statement
The National Institute of Health provided the anonymized database of the 2017-2018 VIANEV survey data after a request for access to public information (https://web.ins.gob.pe/es/transparencia/solicitud-de-acceso-a-la-informacion-publica). The ENAHO 2017 microdata were obtained from the INEI website (http://iinei.inei.gob.pe/microdatos/). Ethical approval was not required for this research due to the public and anonymous nature of the data used.
A total of 1045 Peruvian adults were included in the analysis. The participants were predominantly female (58.6%), within the age range of 18-29 years (32.0%), had a secondary educational level (38.5%), self-identified as non-native (77.6%) and had worked in the last week prior to the survey (69.7%), while a smaller proportion of people had chronic diseases (42.4%), had some limitation (1.6%), lived in poverty (13.4%) or extreme poverty (2.3%), and had migrated from a rural to an urban area in the last 5 years (5.2%). Regarding household characteristics, most participants resided in Metropolitan Lima (49.5%) and at an altitude of 0-499 meters (70.2%) (Table 1).
Of all the Peruvian adults included in the analysis, the age-standardized prevalence of low PA was 61.9%. High proportions of low PA were found among female (66.3%), those who had a higher education (67.9%), those who lived in poverty (62.4%) and those who had migrated to an urban area in the last 5 years (78.9%). Regarding the location of households, the highest proportion of individuals who reported low PA was found in urban coastal areas (70.9%), followed by the highlands (69.2%) and urban areas in jungle (65.2%) (Table 1). Table 2 presents the crude model of the factors associated with low PA, showing a significant association for all variables, with the exception of ethnicity, the presence of chronic diseases, and the presence of some limitation.
In the adjusted model, it was found that low PA was more likely in female (aPR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.31) and in individuals who had migrated from a rural to an urban area in the last 5 years (aPR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.44) than in males and those who had not migrated. Residing in the rural highlands (aPR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.72) and jungle (aPR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.88) was associated with a reduced probability of having low PA compared to people residing in other geographic domains (Table 2).
The present study sought to determine the prevalence of low PA in the Peruvian population and to identify associated factors using the most recent population-based data on PA. It was found that 6 out of 10 Peruvian adults had low PA. In terms of associated factors, being a female and having migrated from a rural to an urban area in the last 5 years were associated with a higher probability of having low PA, while residing in rural areas of the jungle and highlands were associated with a reduced likelihood of having low PA.
In the present study, it was observed that more than half of Peruvian adults had low PA. This prevalence is higher than the global prevalence of low PA (27.5%) and that of LAC (43.7%). LAC is one of the regions with the highest prevalence of low PA, with Brazil (47.0%), Costa Rica (46.1%), and Colombia (44.0%) having the highest reported levels of low PA, while the lowest prevalence rates are found in countries such as the Dominican Republic (21.6%), Uruguay (22.4%), and Chile (26.6%) [5]. It should be noted that Peru was not included in the prevalence estimates for Latin American countries due to the lack of population-based data on PA, making it impossible to evaluate the status of PA in Peru compared to other regions [5]. However, the results of the present study demonstrate that the prevalence of low PA in the Peruvian population is one of the highest in the region, surpassing other South American countries such as Brazil and Colombia.
In Peru, several studies have reported a prevalence of low PA ranging from 37.8% to 87.8% [17,19]. Low-income and middle-income countries have the highest urban population growth and the largest urban area expansion (3 times greater than high-income countries) in the world [26], especially in LAC countries, where most of the population resides in urban areas. In this context, Peru has experienced rapid urbanization and unbalanced growth of cities that promote poverty, poor infrastructure, creation of informal settlements, lack of green spaces in the city, and an insecure perception of the environment, all of which promote sedentary lifestyles [27], increase the risk of developing NCDs and reduce life expectancy [28]. In this context, the implementation of effective interventions is needed to increase PA, especially in countries in which greater prevention measures are needed to decrease the burden of NCDs and reduce the number of deaths from preventable diseases [29].
In terms of associated factors, it was found that being female was associated with a higher probability of having low PA than males. This finding is similar to those reported in populations in Kenya [30], Iran [31], China [32], and Bangladesh [33], where it was found that female had a higher risk of physical inactivity than male. In Peru, a study conducted in the adult population reported that females had twice the risk of low PA compared to males [19]. Psychosocial factors (low level of self-efficacy, higher risk of associated injuries, less support from family and friends for participation in PA, and less motivation to be physically active) are involved in this association, increasing the risk of low PA in female compared to male [34]. Females also have socio-demographic and socioeconomic characteristics (low educational level, unemployment, and living in poverty) that increase the risk of low PA [35]. Therefore, prevention measures based on PA should be implemented and should be related to the psychosocial, socio-demographic, and socioeconomic factors of the female population in order to improve the quality of life and reduce the burden of NCDs in this population.
Likewise, it was found that residing in rural areas of the Peruvian jungle and highlands decreased the probability of having low PA. This finding is consistent with those reported in populations from Brazil [16], Chile [25], and South Africa [36], in which residing in a rural area was associated with a reduced risk of having low PA compared to living in urban areas. In Peru, two population-based studies—one in cities such as Puno (highlands region), a district of Lima (coast region) and Tumbes (coast region), and the other conducted in the entire Peruvian territory—found that people residing in rural areas were less likely to have physical inactivity than people residing in urban areas [17,19]. This association between residing in a rural area and a low probability of physical inactivity is due to the fact that people (especially young male) residing in rural areas have higher levels of occupational activity related to active and manual farm work, and engage in more PA due to extensive walking because of the lack of motorized transportation and well-defined roads [15,16]. In addition, rural areas lack built-up spaces such as sidewalks, bike paths, public parks, street lighting, and recreational centers, leading to a decrease in leisure PA, which is beneficial for mental health [16]. Although the population residing in rural areas has a high level of work-related PA, leisure activities should be encouraged, specific spaces should be created for PA, and trained personnel should be available to promote healthy lifestyles in this population. Furthermore, these strategies are also necessary in urban areas, in which there is a high degree of sedentary lifestyles and a high prevalence of NCDs.
Finally, it was found that people who had migrated from a rural to an urban area in the last 5 years were more likely to have low PA. This finding is similar to that described in an Indian population, reporting that migration from rural to urban areas increased the risk of physical inactivity [37]. In Peru, a study conducted in Ayacucho (highlands region) and Lima (coast region) reported that migrating from a rural to an urban area increased the risk of physical inactivity by more than 20-fold [18]. This is because people who migrate from a rural area to a more urbanized area adopt unhealthy lifestyles (sedentary lifestyles, increased consumption of saturated fats and carbohydrates, weight gain, and high levels of stress) and live in unsafe environments, characterized by pollution, heavy traffic, high crime rates, and high population density [38]. These behavioral and environmental changes resulting from migration decrease people’s physical activity and increase the risk of NCDs such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity [39,40]. Thus, interventions targeting unhealthy lifestyles in people migrating from rural to urban areas and in people residing in urban contexts should be carried out to improve the health conditions and reduce the burden of disease from preventable diseases in these individuals.
The cross-sectional design of this survey precludes the establishment of causal inferences. In addition, recall bias and data imprecision are possible issues because this was a study of secondary data. Nonetheless, the 2017-2018 VIANEV was a population-based survey that assessed nutritional status at all stages of life and compliance with public interventions related to food and nutrition, such as PA. This survey used the short version of the IPAQ to measure PA levels, which despite possibly overestimating PA, has been widely evaluated and used in several studies worldwide [23]. Furthermore, this survey was carried out by previously trained personnel to avoid errors in the collection of information, thereby improving the quality and veracity of the data.
In conclusion, 6 out of 10 Peruvian adults were found to have low PA. Being a female and migrating from a rural to an urban area in the last 5 years were associated with a higher probability of having low PA, while residing in rural areas of the highlands and jungle was associated with a reduced probability of having low PA. Given this problem, cost-effective strategies focused on healthy lifestyles should be developed, especially in female and in urban areas, in which there is the highest prevalence of NCDs.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors have no conflicts of interest associated with the material presented in this paper.

FUNDING

None.

The authors are grateful to Donna Pringle for reviewing the language and style.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Conceptualization: AHV. Data curation: AHV. Formal analysis: AHV. Funding acquisition: None. Methodology: AHV. Project administration: AHV. Visualization: AHV, RVF. Writing – original draft: AHV, RVF. Writing – review & editing: AHV, RVF.

Figure. 1.
Flow chart of participants included in the study analysis. VIANEV, 2017-2018 Food and Nutrition Surveillance by Life Stages survey; ENAHO, National Household Survey; PA, physical activity.
jpmph-21-418f1.jpg
Table 1.
Characteristics of the participants included in the study
Characteristics n (%) Low physical activity
p-value1
Yes No
Overall 1045 (100) 61.9 (58.2, 65.5)2 38.1 (34.5, 41.8)2
Sex
 Male 439 (41.4) 55.5 (50.1, 60.7) 44.5 (39.3, 49.9) 0.002
 Female 606 (58.6) 66.3 (61.6, 70.7) 33.7 (29.3, 38.4)
Age (y)
 18-29 323 (32.0) 62.8 (56.7, 68.5) 37.2 (31.5, 43.3) 0.233
 30-39 265 (24.9) 63.3 (56.5, 69.6) 36.7 (30.4, 43.5)
 40-49 250 (24.2) 56.0 (48.6, 63.2) 44.0 (36.8, 51.4)
 50-59 207 (18.9) 65.6 (58.3, 72.2) 34.4 (27.8, 41.7)
Educational level 0.013
 Up to primary 262 (19.0) 56.3 (49.2, 63.2) 43.7 (36.8, 50.8)
 Secondary 420 (38.5) 57.8 (51.9, 63.5) 42.2 (36.5, 48.1)
 Higher education 363 (42.5) 67.9 (61.9, 73.5) 32.1 (26.5, 38.1)
Ethnicity
 Non-native 789 (77.6) 62.1 (57.9, 66.1) 37.9 (33.9, 42.1) 0.755
 Native 256 (22.4) 60.7 (52.9, 68.1) 39.3 (31.9, 47.1)
Self-reported presence of chronic diseases
 No 609 (57.6) 61.1 (56.2, 65.7) 38.9 (34.3, 43.8) 0.626
 Yes 436 (42.4) 62.8 (57.4, 67.9) 37.2 (32.1, 42.6)
Self-reported presence of any physical, psychological, or cognitive limitations
 No 1023 (98.4) 61.9 (58.2, 65.5) 38.1 (34.5, 41.8) 0.702
 Yes 22 (1.6) 57.3 (33.8, 77.9) 42.7 (22.1, 66.2)
Geographic domains
 Urban coast 126 (14.3) 70.9 (60.5, 79.5) 29.1 (20.5, 39.5) <0.001
 Rural coast 69 (2.6) 58.0 (44.3, 70.5) 42.0 (29.5, 55.7)
 Urban highlands 59 (10.5) 69.2 (54.5, 80.8) 30.8 (19.2, 45.5)
 Rural highlands 191 (12.1) 36.3 (28.8, 44.6) 63.7 (55.4, 71.2)
 Urban areas in jungle 54 (5.6) 65.2 (52.4, 76.0) 34.8 (24.0, 47.6)
 Rural areas in jungle 102 (5.4) 48.1 (37.4, 59.1) 51.9 (40.9, 62.6)
 Metropolitan Lima 444 (49.5) 65.2 (59.7, 70.3) 34.8 (29.7, 40.3)
Poverty
 Extreme poverty 37 (2.3) 34.4 (20.8, 51.2) 65.6 (48.8, 79.2) 0.014
 Non-extreme poverty 163 (13.4) 62.7 (54.2, 70.5) 37.3 (29.5, 45.8)
 Non-poverty 845 (84.3) 62.4 (58.3, 66.4) 37.6 (33.6, 41.7)
Worked in the last week
 No 283 (30.3) 60.9 (57.1, 64.5) 33.5 (27.3, 40.3) 0.080
 Yes 762 (69.7) 78.9 (64.0, 88.7) 40.2 (36.2, 44.4)
Urban migration in the last 5 y
 No 994 (94.8) 60.9 (57.1, 64.5) 39.1 (35.5, 42.9) 0.019
 Yes 51 (5.2) 78.9 (64.0, 88.7) 21.1 (11.3, 36.0)
Altitude of residence (m)
 0-499 697 (70.2) 64.7 (60.2, 68.9) 35.3 (31.1, 39.8) 0.043
 500-1499 92 (6.5) 64.3 (53.1, 74.1) 35.7 (25.9, 46.9)
 1500-2999 85 (7.8) 48.2 (34.0, 62.6) 51.8 (37.4, 66.0)
 3000 or more 171 (15.5) 54.6 (44.2, 64.7) 45.4 (35.3, 55.8)

Values are presented as % (95% confidence interval).

Estimates include the weights and 2017-2018 Food and Nutrition Surveillance by Life Stages survey sample specifications.

1 The p-value was calculated using the chi-square test.

2 Standardized by age according to the World Health Organization standard population.

Table 2.
Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios of low physical activity
Variables Crude p-value Adjusted p-value
Sex
 Male 1.00 (reference) 1.00 (reference)
 Female 1.19 (1.07, 1.34) 0.002 1.17 (1.05, 1.31) 0.006
Age (y)
 18-29 1.00 (reference) 1.00 (reference)
 30-39 1.01 (0.88, 1.16) 0.907 1.02 (0.89, 1.17) 0.766
 40-49 0.89 (0.76, 1.04) 0.151 0.90 (0.77, 1.05) 0.174
 50-59 1.04 (0.91, 1.20) 0.546 1.08 (0.93, 1.25) 0.330
Educational level
 Up to primary 1.00 (reference) 1.00 (reference)
 Secondary 1.03 (0.87, 1.21) 0.752 0.92 (0.77, 1.09) 0.319
 Higher education 1.21 (1.04, 1.40) 0.014 1.03 (0.87, 1.22) 0.732
Ethnicity
 Non-native 1.00 (reference) Not included
 Native 0.98 (0.85, 1.13) 0.758
Self-reported presence of chronic diseases
 No 1.00 (reference) Not included
 Yes 1.03 (0.92, 1.15) 0.625
Self-reported presence of any physical, psychological, or cognitive limitations
 No 1.00 (reference) Not included
 Yes 0.93 (0.61, 1.41) 0.717
Geographic domains
 Urban coast 1.00 (reference) 1.00 (reference)
 Rural coast 0.82 (0.63, 1.07) 0.141 0.84 (0.64, 1.11) 0.217
 Urban highlands 0.98 (0.77, 1.24) 0.844 0.93 (0.67, 1.29) 0.662
 Rural highlands 0.51 (0.40, 0.66) <0.001 0.49 (0.34, 0.72) <0.001
 Urban areas in jungle 0.92 (0.73, 1.16) 0.471 0.90 (0.71, 1.14) 0.396
 Rural areas in jungle 0.68 (0.52, 0.89) 0.004 0.66 (0.50, 0.88) 0.005
 Metropolitan Lima 0.92 (0.79, 1.08) 0.301 0.94 (0.80, 1.10) 0.422
Poverty
 Extreme poverty 1.00 (reference) 1.00 (reference)
 Non-extreme poverty 1.82 (1.13, 2.94) 0.014 1.41 (0.89, 2.24) 0.144
 Non-poverty 1.81 (1.14, 2.88) 0.012 1.23 (0.78, 1.96) 0.370
Worked in the last week
 No 1.00 (reference) 1.00 (reference)
 Yes 0.90 (0.80, 1.01) 0.068 0.98 (0.87, 1.09) 0.685
Urban migration in the last 5 y
 No 1.00 (reference) 1.00 (reference)
 Yes 1.30 (1.10, 1.53) 0.002 1.21 (1.02, 1.44) 0.031
Altitude of residence (m)
 0-499 1.00 (reference) 1.00 (reference)
 500-1499 0.99 (0.83, 1.19) 0.947 1.12 (0.95, 1.33) 0.180
 1500-2999 0.75 (0.54, 1.02) 0.066 0.95 (0.67, 1.35) 0.786
 ≥3000 0.84 (0.69, 1.03) 0.101 1.14 (0.82, 1.59) 0.424

Values are presented as prevalence ratio (95% confidence interval).

Estimates include the weights and 2017-2018 Food and Nutrition Surveillance by Life Stages survey sample specifications.

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Figure & Data

References

    Citations

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    Figure
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    Socio-demographic Determinants of Low Physical Activity in Peruvian Adults: Results of a Population-based Survey Performed in 2017-2018
    Image
    Figure. 1. Flow chart of participants included in the study analysis. VIANEV, 2017-2018 Food and Nutrition Surveillance by Life Stages survey; ENAHO, National Household Survey; PA, physical activity.
    Socio-demographic Determinants of Low Physical Activity in Peruvian Adults: Results of a Population-based Survey Performed in 2017-2018
    Characteristics n (%) Low physical activity
    p-value1
    Yes No
    Overall 1045 (100) 61.9 (58.2, 65.5)2 38.1 (34.5, 41.8)2
    Sex
     Male 439 (41.4) 55.5 (50.1, 60.7) 44.5 (39.3, 49.9) 0.002
     Female 606 (58.6) 66.3 (61.6, 70.7) 33.7 (29.3, 38.4)
    Age (y)
     18-29 323 (32.0) 62.8 (56.7, 68.5) 37.2 (31.5, 43.3) 0.233
     30-39 265 (24.9) 63.3 (56.5, 69.6) 36.7 (30.4, 43.5)
     40-49 250 (24.2) 56.0 (48.6, 63.2) 44.0 (36.8, 51.4)
     50-59 207 (18.9) 65.6 (58.3, 72.2) 34.4 (27.8, 41.7)
    Educational level 0.013
     Up to primary 262 (19.0) 56.3 (49.2, 63.2) 43.7 (36.8, 50.8)
     Secondary 420 (38.5) 57.8 (51.9, 63.5) 42.2 (36.5, 48.1)
     Higher education 363 (42.5) 67.9 (61.9, 73.5) 32.1 (26.5, 38.1)
    Ethnicity
     Non-native 789 (77.6) 62.1 (57.9, 66.1) 37.9 (33.9, 42.1) 0.755
     Native 256 (22.4) 60.7 (52.9, 68.1) 39.3 (31.9, 47.1)
    Self-reported presence of chronic diseases
     No 609 (57.6) 61.1 (56.2, 65.7) 38.9 (34.3, 43.8) 0.626
     Yes 436 (42.4) 62.8 (57.4, 67.9) 37.2 (32.1, 42.6)
    Self-reported presence of any physical, psychological, or cognitive limitations
     No 1023 (98.4) 61.9 (58.2, 65.5) 38.1 (34.5, 41.8) 0.702
     Yes 22 (1.6) 57.3 (33.8, 77.9) 42.7 (22.1, 66.2)
    Geographic domains
     Urban coast 126 (14.3) 70.9 (60.5, 79.5) 29.1 (20.5, 39.5) <0.001
     Rural coast 69 (2.6) 58.0 (44.3, 70.5) 42.0 (29.5, 55.7)
     Urban highlands 59 (10.5) 69.2 (54.5, 80.8) 30.8 (19.2, 45.5)
     Rural highlands 191 (12.1) 36.3 (28.8, 44.6) 63.7 (55.4, 71.2)
     Urban areas in jungle 54 (5.6) 65.2 (52.4, 76.0) 34.8 (24.0, 47.6)
     Rural areas in jungle 102 (5.4) 48.1 (37.4, 59.1) 51.9 (40.9, 62.6)
     Metropolitan Lima 444 (49.5) 65.2 (59.7, 70.3) 34.8 (29.7, 40.3)
    Poverty
     Extreme poverty 37 (2.3) 34.4 (20.8, 51.2) 65.6 (48.8, 79.2) 0.014
     Non-extreme poverty 163 (13.4) 62.7 (54.2, 70.5) 37.3 (29.5, 45.8)
     Non-poverty 845 (84.3) 62.4 (58.3, 66.4) 37.6 (33.6, 41.7)
    Worked in the last week
     No 283 (30.3) 60.9 (57.1, 64.5) 33.5 (27.3, 40.3) 0.080
     Yes 762 (69.7) 78.9 (64.0, 88.7) 40.2 (36.2, 44.4)
    Urban migration in the last 5 y
     No 994 (94.8) 60.9 (57.1, 64.5) 39.1 (35.5, 42.9) 0.019
     Yes 51 (5.2) 78.9 (64.0, 88.7) 21.1 (11.3, 36.0)
    Altitude of residence (m)
     0-499 697 (70.2) 64.7 (60.2, 68.9) 35.3 (31.1, 39.8) 0.043
     500-1499 92 (6.5) 64.3 (53.1, 74.1) 35.7 (25.9, 46.9)
     1500-2999 85 (7.8) 48.2 (34.0, 62.6) 51.8 (37.4, 66.0)
     3000 or more 171 (15.5) 54.6 (44.2, 64.7) 45.4 (35.3, 55.8)
    Variables Crude p-value Adjusted p-value
    Sex
     Male 1.00 (reference) 1.00 (reference)
     Female 1.19 (1.07, 1.34) 0.002 1.17 (1.05, 1.31) 0.006
    Age (y)
     18-29 1.00 (reference) 1.00 (reference)
     30-39 1.01 (0.88, 1.16) 0.907 1.02 (0.89, 1.17) 0.766
     40-49 0.89 (0.76, 1.04) 0.151 0.90 (0.77, 1.05) 0.174
     50-59 1.04 (0.91, 1.20) 0.546 1.08 (0.93, 1.25) 0.330
    Educational level
     Up to primary 1.00 (reference) 1.00 (reference)
     Secondary 1.03 (0.87, 1.21) 0.752 0.92 (0.77, 1.09) 0.319
     Higher education 1.21 (1.04, 1.40) 0.014 1.03 (0.87, 1.22) 0.732
    Ethnicity
     Non-native 1.00 (reference) Not included
     Native 0.98 (0.85, 1.13) 0.758
    Self-reported presence of chronic diseases
     No 1.00 (reference) Not included
     Yes 1.03 (0.92, 1.15) 0.625
    Self-reported presence of any physical, psychological, or cognitive limitations
     No 1.00 (reference) Not included
     Yes 0.93 (0.61, 1.41) 0.717
    Geographic domains
     Urban coast 1.00 (reference) 1.00 (reference)
     Rural coast 0.82 (0.63, 1.07) 0.141 0.84 (0.64, 1.11) 0.217
     Urban highlands 0.98 (0.77, 1.24) 0.844 0.93 (0.67, 1.29) 0.662
     Rural highlands 0.51 (0.40, 0.66) <0.001 0.49 (0.34, 0.72) <0.001
     Urban areas in jungle 0.92 (0.73, 1.16) 0.471 0.90 (0.71, 1.14) 0.396
     Rural areas in jungle 0.68 (0.52, 0.89) 0.004 0.66 (0.50, 0.88) 0.005
     Metropolitan Lima 0.92 (0.79, 1.08) 0.301 0.94 (0.80, 1.10) 0.422
    Poverty
     Extreme poverty 1.00 (reference) 1.00 (reference)
     Non-extreme poverty 1.82 (1.13, 2.94) 0.014 1.41 (0.89, 2.24) 0.144
     Non-poverty 1.81 (1.14, 2.88) 0.012 1.23 (0.78, 1.96) 0.370
    Worked in the last week
     No 1.00 (reference) 1.00 (reference)
     Yes 0.90 (0.80, 1.01) 0.068 0.98 (0.87, 1.09) 0.685
    Urban migration in the last 5 y
     No 1.00 (reference) 1.00 (reference)
     Yes 1.30 (1.10, 1.53) 0.002 1.21 (1.02, 1.44) 0.031
    Altitude of residence (m)
     0-499 1.00 (reference) 1.00 (reference)
     500-1499 0.99 (0.83, 1.19) 0.947 1.12 (0.95, 1.33) 0.180
     1500-2999 0.75 (0.54, 1.02) 0.066 0.95 (0.67, 1.35) 0.786
     ≥3000 0.84 (0.69, 1.03) 0.101 1.14 (0.82, 1.59) 0.424
    Table 1. Characteristics of the participants included in the study

    Values are presented as % (95% confidence interval).

    Estimates include the weights and 2017-2018 Food and Nutrition Surveillance by Life Stages survey sample specifications.

    The p-value was calculated using the chi-square test.

    Standardized by age according to the World Health Organization standard population.

    Table 2. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios of low physical activity

    Values are presented as prevalence ratio (95% confidence interval).

    Estimates include the weights and 2017-2018 Food and Nutrition Surveillance by Life Stages survey sample specifications.


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