Effect of Physical Education Intervention on Activity Level and Hypertension in Healthy Middle Aged Urban Residents in West Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Nowadays people dying at middle age because of hypertension globally and become leading risk factors for death with cardiovascular diseases. Evidences showed performing physical activity reduce risk of chronic diseases; however physical education interventions limited in west Ethiopia. So, study designed to evaluate physical education effect on activity level and hypertension among urban residents of west Ethiopia.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study was used to evaluate effect of physical education. The intervention was delivered by expertise and two wise data collected.  A possible association between outcome and independent factors were analyzed with binary logistic using SPSS version 24 and significant was check at P-value <0.05 with 95% CI.

Results: The prevalence of physical inactivity declined from (90.2% baseline) to 66(51.6% end line). Similarly, the prevalence of raised blood pressure was declined by 4.9% and activity level escalated by 38.6%. Likewise, a significant reduction in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure (-0.5mmHg and -1.8 mmHg] seen respectively. On binary analysis, physical inactivity (OR=1.3; 95%CI=1.1-3.5) was associated with hypertension and the proportion of physical activity also increased significantly (P= 0.040).

Conclusion: Community based physical education intervention targeted to middle age may improve activity level, awareness and risk of hypertension at nation level.