Prevalence, Patterns and Predictors of Physical Inactivity in a Rural area of Goa: A Community Based Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: Physical inactivity significantly raises the risk of death from noncommunicable diseases and about one-third of adults fall short of recommended activity levels. In India, inactivity has surged from 22.3% in 2000 to 49.4% in 2022, prompting urgent action. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for research to better understand and address the growing burden of inactivity and its health consequences. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of physical inactivity among adults residing in rural area of Goa and to study the factors associated with it. Methods: A Community based cross sectional study was conducted amongst individuals ≥18 years residing in field practice area of Rural health & training centre, Mandur, Goa. A semi structured questionnaire with Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) was used to collect data. At a proportion of 22%, 95% confidence interval and 5% absolute error the sample size was 300. Systematic random sampling was employed. Results: Out of 300 study participants, 158 (52.7%) were females and 142 (47.3%) were males. Prevalence of physical inactivity in the study population was 113 (37.7%). Age (p=0.021), Sex (p=0.012), Education (p=0.014), Occupation (p=0.024), Smoking (p=0.001), Alcohol (p=0.001) and Comorbidities (p=0.001) were found to be significantly associated with physical inactivity. Conclusion: This study highlights that many adults in rural Goa lead inactive lifestyles, which can impact their health in the long run. To tackle this issue, policymakers should focus on creating more opportunities for physical activity and strengthen community health programs to promote overall well-being.