Physical Activity and Its Associated Factors among Patients with Hypertension at Amhara Region Comprehensive Specialised Hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia: An Institutional Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

BackgroundAccurate evaluation of physical activity for patients with hypertension is important to determine patients’ health outcomes and intervention measures. Information about physical activity among patients with hypertension in Ethiopia is not well known.ObjectiveThis study was aimed to assess the physical activity and associated factors among patients with hypertension.Study designAn institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted.Study settingThe study was conducted at the Tertiary Hospital Northwest, Ethiopia.Outcome measuresPhysical activity was assessed by Global Physical Activity Questionnaire as the primary outcome and factors significantly associated with physical activity were secondary outcomes.ParticipantsFour hundred and twenty patients with hypertension took part in the study; among those 233 were men and 187 were women. The study participants were chosen using a systematic random sampling method. SPSS V.20 statistical software was used to analyse the data. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis model, adjusted OR (AOR) with a 95% CI and p value<0.05 were used to identify the associated factors with physical activities.ResultsOur study showed that 19.1% of study participants had inadequate physical activity, being old age with AOR: 10.27 (3.21 to 33.01), low or poor self-efficacy with AOR: 10.34 (4.89 to 21.84), poor self-rated health with AOR: 5.91 (1.73 to 20.13) and lack of adequate facilities with AOR: 4.07 (1.72 to 9.66) were significantly associated with inadequate physical activity.ConclusionInadequate physical activity was detected in one-fifth of the study participants, according to our research. Being elderly, having low self-efficacy, having inadequate facilities and having poor self-rated health were all linked to inadequate physical activity.