Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
PLoS One. 2022 Jun 2;17(6):e0268817. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268817. eCollection 2022.
Despite reforming health policies to create more enabling environments, insufficient physical activity in Sri Lanka remains a major public health issue. Socio-culture specific determinants underlying the physical activity of adults living in such environments need to be identified. The aim of this study was to explore the barriers and facilitators for physical activity, as perceived by adult urban dwellers in activity-friendly environments in Colombo District, Sri Lanka.
A qualitative study using in-depth interviews was conducted among adults aged 20-60 years living in an urban area which has been recently re-designed for recreational and rejuvenating purposes in Sri Lanka. Recruitment targeted varying socio-economic status and risk of non-communicable diseases; and was continued until the data saturation point was reached. Interviews were conducted in homes, primary healthcare units and fitness centres, and were transcribed verbatim and analysed using framework analysis.
A total of 31 eligible and consenting adults were interviewed. Of the reported barriers to physical activity, lack of time was very common. Other frequently reported barriers included unpleasant experiences following exercise and misconceptions about exercise, whereas physical environmental factors, weather and road safety were reported less frequently. All participants reported at least one facilitator for engaging in exercise. Expectations of preventing diseases, improving health, physical fitness, psycho-social wellbeing, optimising body functions and increasing lifespan were frequently cited as reasons to be active, while social factors such as positive attitudes of family members and the influence of peers were found to be motivating.
The study showed that while participants valued the health benefits of physical activity and refurbished activity-friendly urban environments, these were not sufficient to support them to overcome key perceived barriers to being physically active.
尽管斯里兰卡改革了卫生政策，以创造更有利的环境，但成年人的身体活动量仍然不足，这仍是一个主要的公共卫生问题。生活在这种环境中的成年人的身体活动的社会文化特定决定因素需要确定。本研究旨在探讨科伦坡地区活动友好型环境中成年人的身体活动的障碍和促进因素。
在斯里兰卡，一项针对年龄在 20-60 岁之间的成年人的定性研究使用深入访谈进行，这些成年人居住在一个最近为娱乐和恢复目的而重新设计的城市地区。招募的目标是不同的社会经济地位和非传染性疾病的风险；并继续进行，直到达到数据饱和点。访谈在家庭、初级保健单位和健身中心进行，并进行逐字转录和框架分析。
共有 31 名符合条件并同意参与的成年人接受了采访。报告的身体活动障碍中，缺乏时间是非常常见的。其他经常报告的障碍包括运动后的不愉快体验和对运动的误解，而身体环境因素、天气和道路安全则较少被报道。所有参与者都报告了至少一个促进锻炼的因素。预防疾病、改善健康、身体健康、心理社会健康、优化身体功能和延长寿命的期望经常被作为积极锻炼的原因，而社会因素，如家庭成员的积极态度和同龄人的影响，则被发现是有激励作用的。
研究表明，尽管参与者重视身体活动的健康益处和翻新的活动友好型城市环境，但这些因素不足以支持他们克服身体活动的主要感知障碍。
