Abstract

STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF SAUDI WOMEN TOWARDS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, 2017

Akram Adel Alandijani*, Samar Yousif Alali, Abdullah Saud Alotaibi, Aisha Abdulrahman Alsulami, Rehab Abdulmohsen Alali, Rabab Abdulrazaq Makkawi,
Waleed Ali Alshehri, Eman Mushabab Ibrahim, Riyadh Awadhallah Alahmadi, Hassan Mohammed Alshehri

Abstract

Background: Physical activity is an effective component of healthand prevention of disease. Increasing the general health knowledge about physical activity could prevent obesity and chronic diseases. Objectives: Study the KAP of Saudi women regarding physical activity in KSA. Methods: This was a community based survey study conducted among 800 Saudi adult females chosen randomly using a multistage random technique during the period from January to April 2017. Included subjects were asked to fill up a predesigned questionnaire including questions about socio-demographics and assessing the KAP about physical activity. Results: Most of females (64%) had poor knowledge while 36% had good awareness about the physical activity. About 72.2% had poor practice pattern but 22.8% had good practice pattern of physical activity. The attitude toward physical activity was good in the majority of subjects (75.1%) and poor in (24.9%) of them. The overall general KAP of included females regarding physical activity was poor in 62% and good in 38%. Conclusion: The overall general KAP was low among studied groups thus there is a dispensable need for providing a good and safe environment for women for practicing routine physical activity. Also, more efforts should be conducted for increasing the KAP of females toward physical activity through educational campaigns in internet, TV and health care facilities.

Keywords: KAP, Physical Activity, Women, KSA.