Chisati Enock M, Munthali Francis, Constantinou Demitri, Lampiao Fanuel
Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.
Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA), Nairobi, Kenya.
Malawi Med J. 2020 Mar;32(1):8-12. doi: 10.4314/mmj.v32i1.3.
Despite increasing life expectancy among people living with HIV (PLWHIV), anti-retroviral therapy (ART) side effects, HIV chronic inflammation and co-morbidities may limit functional abilities and reduced participation in exercises and physical activity (PA). PA improves wellbeing and overall quality of life of PLWHIV. In Malawi, there is paucity of information regarding PA levels among Malawians living with HIV and receiving ART. Therefore, this study aimed at determining PA levels among PLWHIV and receiving ART in Malawi.
A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed. Eligible participants were male and female adults aged 18-45 years living with HIV receiving ART for at least 1 year. The participants were recruited from Limbe Health Center, Gateway Health Center and Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre, Malawi. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess the PA levels. A Stadiometer (HS-DBS00361, Model: 1127154) was used to measure weight (kg) and height (cm) of the participants.
A total of 213 participants were recruited. There were more females than male participants (n=132 females). Overall, the mean age of all participants was 37±6.5 years and they were within normal body weight (BMI=23±4.0). Many participants (n=85, 40%) had low PA levels followed by those who were moderately physically active (n=75, 36%). A larger proportion of the female participants (51%) had low PA levels compared to males (22%). Forty-two percent of participants with 1-3 years of ART had low PA whereas 39% with >3 years ART had low PA.
Most PLWHIV and receiving ART in the sample have low PA levels. The study has also revealed that proportionally more females than males had low PA levels.
尽管感染艾滋病毒者（PLWHIV）的预期寿命有所增加，但抗逆转录病毒疗法（ART）的副作用、艾滋病毒慢性炎症和合并症可能会限制其功能能力，并减少他们参与锻炼和体育活动（PA）的机会。体育活动可改善感染艾滋病毒者的幸福感和总体生活质量。在马拉维，关于接受抗逆转录病毒治疗的艾滋病毒感染者的体育活动水平的信息匮乏。因此，本研究旨在确定马拉维接受抗逆转录病毒治疗的艾滋病毒感染者的体育活动水平。
采用定量横断面设计。符合条件的参与者为年龄在18至45岁之间、感染艾滋病毒且接受抗逆转录病毒治疗至少1年的成年男性和女性。参与者从马拉维布兰太尔的林贝健康中心、盖特威健康中心和伊丽莎白女王中央医院（QECH）招募。使用国际体育活动问卷（IPAQ）评估体育活动水平。使用身高体重计（HS-DBS00361，型号：1127154）测量参与者的体重（kg）和身高（cm）。
共招募了213名参与者。女性参与者多于男性参与者（n = 132名女性）。总体而言，所有参与者的平均年龄为37±6.5岁，体重正常（BMI = 23±4.0）。许多参与者（n = 85，40%）体育活动水平较低，其次是中度体育活动者（n = 75，36%）。与男性（22%）相比，女性参与者中体育活动水平较低的比例更大（51%）。接受抗逆转录病毒治疗1至3年的参与者中有42%体育活动水平较低，而接受抗逆转录病毒治疗超过3年的参与者中有39%体育活动水平较低。
样本中大多数接受抗逆转录病毒治疗的艾滋病毒感染者体育活动水平较低。该研究还表明，体育活动水平较低的女性比例在比例上高于男性。
