Physical activity in the lives of two generations of black professional women in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality

Walter, Cheryl Michelle

Title: Physical activity in the lives of two generations of black professional women in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality
Creator: Walter, Cheryl Michelle
Subject: Physical education for women
Subject: Physical fitness for women
Subject: Women -- Health and hygiene
Date Issued: 2008
Date: 2008
Type: Thesis
Type: Doctoral
Type: DPhil
Identifier: vital:10089
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/664
Identifier: Physical education for women
Identifier: Physical fitness for women
Identifier: Women -- Health and hygiene
Description: The association between physical inactivity, adverse health and hypokinetic diseases has been widely researched. There is an increased risk of being overweight, and of developing certain chronic diseases and suffering premature death associated with physical inactivity (Young, Miller, Wilder, Yanek & Becker, 1998). Recent surveys and studies have revealed that the majority of the South African population has moved extensively along the epidemiological transition towards a disease profile related to Western lifestyle, where deaths due to chronic diseases of lifestyle is a great cause for concern (Steyn, 2006). Black women, in particular, have been identified as a high risk group with the highest levels of inactivity and the highest levels of overweight and obesity in the country (SADHS, 1998; WHO, 2005). Although there is a growing body of knowledge and research on physical activity in general, there is still a lack of data on the determinants and barriers to participation in physical activity (Lambert & Kolbe-Alexander, 2006). Cultural patterns and economic, political and ideological orders affect the participation of women in sport (Hargreaves, 1994:5). Black women in South Africa have been disadvantaged by the past government’s policy of apartheid, and have also been marginalized and oppressed in their own patriarchal societies. The first democratically elected government in 1994, however, committed itself to gender equality and women’s emancipation, with constitutional guarantees on equality and an affirmative action policy to address gender inequalities. In order to evaluate the extent of the beneficial impact of these political changes in women’s lives, this study proposed to investigate physical activity patterns in the lives of two generations of black professional women (teachers, nurses, social workers and public managers) from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The objectives that guided the research were: • To describe and compare the physical activity patterns and health status of two generations of black women through questionnaires, physical activity records and mechanical devices. • To explore and describe the psychosocial context and socio-cultural influences on physical activity in the lives of the participants. xi • To explore and describe the participants’ perceptions and attitudes, motivations and constraints relating to physical activity. • To use the research findings to compile guidelines to promote physical activity participation among black women. A mixed method approach using both quantitative and qualitative methods was selected to achieve an holistic understanding of physical activity in the lives of black South African women. The older generation (OG) of professional women was comprised of community teachers, nurses, social workers and public managers (n=111, aged 35 to 45 years, mean age = 39.87 years). These women, through their occupations, were in constant contact with the community and could be regarded as role models who influence community lifestyle, attitudes and behaviour. The younger generation (YG) (n=69, aged 18 to 21 years, mean age = 20.12 years) was comprised of teaching, nursing, social work and public management students in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The objective of the quantitative section of the study was to provide baseline information on the physical activity patterns and health status of these two generations of black professional women. Physical activity and health questionnaires were administered and the ActiGraph GT1 accelerometer was used to provide an objective measure of energy expenditure. The objective of the qualitative data collection was to explore and describe the psychosocial context and socio-cultural influences on physical activity in the lives of the participants, and to investigate their attitudes to and perceptions of physical activity, and their motivations and constraints related to it. In-depth qualitative interviews were held with the participants who wore the ActiGraph, and a group of 47 were interviewed (sample size determined by data saturation from the interviews). An explorative-descriptive research design was used in the study. The sampling method was purposive and criterion-based. The younger generation of students were mostly selected from the various campuses of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, while additional student nurses were recruited from the Lilitha Nursing College in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The older generation of professionals were recruited from schools and clinics in the areas of New Brighton, Kwa-Zakhele, Zwide, Motherwell and Kwa-Nobuhle (all historically black areas), the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development, non-government organizations and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. xii The quantitative data were analysed by means of descriptive and inferential statistics. The qualitative data was analysed according to the steps described in Creswell (2003). The results of the quantitative data indicated that prevalence of overweight and obesity among both the YG and OG was high. The mean BMI for the YG and OG were 24.71 kg/m2 and 31.27 kg/m2, respectively, with 41% of the YG and 86% of the OG falling into the overweight/obesity category. BMI was significantly greater (p<.05) for the OG than for the YG. In addition, both the OG and YG had satisfactory scores for the health-related behaviour measures (the Belloc and Breslow Lifestyle Index and the HPLP). All the physical activity measurements (the FIT Index of Kasari, the GPAQ and the ActiGraph data) confirmed that both the YG and OG were not sufficiently physically active. They did not meet the Centre of Disease Control (CDC) and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommendation of engaging in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, or preferably all, days of the week. The YG were significantly more active than the OG in all the physical activity measuring instruments. They were still, however, not reaching the health enhancing physical activity (HEPA) level (≥7 days of any combination of moderate and vigorous activity, ≥ 3000 METmins/week). Pearson Product Moment correlations were calculated to determine the relationship among the various measurements of physical activity o the one hand and the relationship between the measurements of physical activity and the health-related behaviour measurements on the other hand. The correlational analyses highlighted a good cross-validation of the various measures of physical activity. There was a significant correlation between the measures of leisure time physical activity, that is the FIT Index, and the leisure domain of the GPAQ. There was also a significant relationship in the area of walking or steps taken, that is the ActiGraph steps and the GPAQ transport domain. There was also a significant relationship between the overall measures of physical activity, that is the GPAQ total score, and the ActiGraph calories. The correlations between the various physical activity and health related behaviour measures revealed that only the leisure related physical activity measurements, that is, the FIT index and the GPAQ leisure domain, had a significant correlation with the two health related behaviour measures, namely the Belloc and Breslow Lifestyle Index and the HPLP, respectively. xiii The results from the qualitative data revealed that both the OG and YG had positive attitudes towards physical activity participation (displayed by their awareness of the many benefits, their expressed intention to start exercising, the encouragement given to their children in relation to physical activity participation), even though the majority of them were not active on a regular basis. Participants recognized the educational, recreational and developmental importance of being physically active, a shift in attitude from their own upbringing and lifestyles. Regardless of how firmly people may believe that physical activity is beneficial to their health, there are many barriers, whether real or perceived, that represent significant potential obstructions to the adoption, maintenance, or resumption of participation in physical activity (Booth et al., 1997). Three sub-themes were identified in relation to the barriers to physical activity participation, namely personal factors, environmental factors and socio-cultural factors. The personal factors included time constraints, stress and tiredness, lack of motivation, negative school experiences, negative associations with exercise and financial constraints. The environmental factors included residential areas, availability of recreation and sports facilities, and safety. The socio-cultural factors were lack of social support, exercise “not being a part of African culture”, traditional roles of males and females, dress code, exercise associated with the young, exercise associated with undesirable weight loss and negative comments by the community. On the basis of research findings, guidelines were drawn up for the promotion of physical activity participation among black women.
Format: xiii, 302 leaves ; 30 cm
Format: pdf
Publisher: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Publisher: Faculty of Health Sciences
Language: English
Rights: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

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