KNOWLEGDE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE AMONG POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN

Abstract

The growing trend in the prevalence of Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) has been associated with inadequate and improper physical exercise, especially among young people and older adults. Few studies have documented knowledge, attitude and practice of young people towards physical exercise especially in Nigeria. This study, therefore, assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice of physical exercise among postgraduate students of University of Ibadan. The study was descriptive cross sectional survey that used a four-stage sampling technique to select 405 postgraduate students across eight selected faculties in the postgraduate school of the University of Ibadan. A validated semi-structured questionnaire which contained a 54- point knowledge scale, 22-point attitudinal scale, questions relating to factors influencing the practice of physical exercise and the practice of physical exercise among students was used for data collection. Knowledge scores ≤17, >17-35 and >35 were classified as poor, fair, and good respectively. Attitude scores ≤11 and >11were categorised as negative and positive attitude respectively. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test at p=0.05. Respondents’ mean age was 28.1±4.4 years, 57.5% of the respondents were male, majority 85.4% were Christians and 81% were single. Mean knowledge score was 38.9±6.7; respondents with poor, fair and good knowledge of physical exercise were 0.2%, 28.4% and 71.4% respectively. Most respondents, 70.9% said physical exercise can also be called physical activity and majority 82.2% affirmed that physical exercise is a subcategory of physical exercise. Some of the respondents 46.9% believed an individual is at risk of getting NCD if he/she does not perform physical exercise. The mean attitudinal score was 17.3±2.9 and 97% of the respondents had a positive attitude towards physical exercise. Majority 84.7% agreed that physical exercise adds value to life and 92.6% claimed they can recommend physical exercise for friends/family. Many of the respondents 57.3% agreed it is difficult to combine regular physical exercise with postgraduate study, 64.2% confirmed that facilities and/or equipment for physical exercise are not readily available and about half 53.1% claimed that kits for physical exercise are not usually affordable. Most 59.8% respondents reported that they do not exercise or play sport regularly, in which 34.6% and 7.9% attached their reasons to lack of time and interest respectively. 43.7% reported that they do perform physical exercise before but stopped, with reasons such as; lack of time (academic/school

work) and majority 62.5% reported planning to initiate physical exercise. Perceived body weight influences participation of physical exercise as respondents who perceived themselves to beoverweight (30%) and normal weight (43.1%) participated in physical exercise compared to those perceived to be underweight. The respondents’ positive attitudinal disposition to physical exercise was high but practice was low. Lack of time to practice was a major hindering factor.Programs to promote the practice of physical exercise should be encouraged and organised by the administration and the students union.