Factors Affecting Physical Activity of Rural Thai Midlife Women
Kitti Laosupap MPH*, Chulaporn Sota PhD**, Malinee Laopaiboon PhD***
Affiliation : * PhD student, Graduate School, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen ** Department of Health Education, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen *** Department of Biostatistics and Demography, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen
Objective : To determine the relationships between the knowledge, social support, self-efficacy, appropriate
environment, perceived barriers, and perceived benefits of physical activity and levels of physical activity.
Material and Method: A cross-sectional survey with multi-stage sampling was performed in a sample of 642
midlife women aged 40-59 years from Kalasin Province between June and July 2006. Physical activity was
measured by interviewing and classified as active and inactive according to the national guidelines. They
were also interviewed for general characteristics, factors of interest, and problems and needs for promoting
physical activity.
Results : Forty seven percent of active physical activity was found in the midlife women. The women with
moderate level of physical activity knowledge were more likely to be active than those with a low level of the
knowledge (aOR 1.6; 95% CI 1.1, 2.6). The women who perceived high benefits of physical activity were more
likely to be active than those with the moderate perceiving (aOR 1.7; 95% CI 1.3, 2.4).
Conclusion : These findings provided two determinants of the physical activity in rural midlife Thai women for
planning the physical activity program.
Keywords : Physical Activity, Rural midlife Thai women
