1. Predictors of physical inactivity among elderly malaysians: recommendations for policy planning
- Author
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Weng Keong Yao, Bee Kiau Ho, Jasvindar Kaur, Gurpreet Kaur, Kuang Hock Lim, and Mohmad Salleh
- Subjects
Gerontology ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Cross-sectional study ,Ethnic group ,Risk Factors ,Environmental health ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Medicine ,Humans ,Risk factor ,Policy Making ,Socioeconomic status ,Aged ,business.industry ,Public health ,Health Policy ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Malaysia ,Odds ratio ,Middle Aged ,Policy planning ,Socioeconomic Factors ,Multivariate Analysis ,Household income ,Female ,Sedentary Behavior ,business - Abstract
Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. Regular moderate-intensity physical activity has significant benefits for health. To determine the socioeconomic predictors of physical inactivity among elderly Malaysian population. A nationwide community-based survey was conducted among 4831 respondents aged ≥60 years with a face-to-face questionnaire. The prevalence of physical inactivity among the elderly was 88.0%, highest in respondents aged older than 80 years (95.4%), females (90.1%), other Bumiputra (92.2%), earning household income less than RM1000 (87.9%), and residing in urban locality (88.4%). In the multivariate model, the predictors of physical inactivity were only sex, ethnicity, locality, and age group (adjusted odds ratio = 1.3-3.6). The predictors of physical inactivity can identify the risk factors to develop policies that will reduce the public health burden of noncommunicable diseases.
- Published
- 2014