Search Advanced

AIMS Public Health

2024, Volume 11, Issue 2: 459-476. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2024023
Previous Article Next Article
Research article

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on physical activity behavior among students in Somalia

  • 1.
    Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Tamil Nadu, India
  • 2.
    Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
  • 3.
    Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, School of Physical Education, Sport Science and Dietetics, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece
  • 4.
    Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece
  • 5.
    Faculty of Health Science, Somali International University, Mogadishu, Somalia
  • 6.
    Department of Exercise Physiology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • 7.
    Department of Public and Environmental Health, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine and Allied Medical Sciences, Federal University Dutse, Dutse, Nigeria
  • 8.
    Department of General Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, University Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
  • 9.
    Demartino Hospital, Ministry of Health, Mogadishu, Somalia
  • 10.
    National Public Health Reference Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Mogadishu, Somalia
  • 11.
    Department of Sports Management, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkey
  • Received: 29 January 2024 Revised: 18 March 2024 Accepted: 25 March 2024 Published: 10 April 2024

  • Background

    Due to the worldwide reach of the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities across the globe deemed it essential to enforce exceptional containment measures. Maintaining physical activity (PA) during this time was only feasible through engaging in activities at home. Therefore, this study focused on elucidating the levels of PA and well-being among Somali students in the aftermath of the lockdown measures implemented by governments at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

     Methods

    This study was conducted in Somalia among undergraduate students studying at Somali International University. A total of 1266 students were included in the present study. An online survey was utilized to measure participant PA behavior. The assessment of PA was conducted in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, utilizing the Godin Leisure questionnaire. The study showed that 85.8% of the study participants (n = 1086) were between the ages of 17 and 22. More than half of the participants (58.7%, n = 743) were female and had no other employment (57.3%, n = 743).

     Results

    Jogging was the most frequently reported PA (57.3%, n = 726), and PA level was on average 59.7 minutes per day (SD = 25.9). Also, most of the study participants were in their last year (82.1%). In the regression analysis, age, gender, academic year, and work status were significant predictors of being physically active after the COVID-19 pandemic.

     Conclusion

    Factors affecting PA after the COVID-19 pandemic include age, gender, academic year, and work status. Males, younger individuals, and those who engage in outdoor exercise are more likely to be physically active. Once the COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed, undergraduate students in Somalia were physically active. A high level of PA appears to be advantageous for public health. Universities in Somalia should uphold school policies that promote an active lifestyle among students, aiming to maintain or enhance the existing level of PA.

    Citation: Sameer Badri Al-Mhanna, Alexios Batrakoulis, Abdulrahman M. Sheikh, Abdulaziz A. Aldayel, Abdulwali Sabo, Mahaneem Mohamed, Hafeez Abiola Afolabi, Abdirizak Yusuf Ahmed, Sahra Isse Mohamed, Mehmet Gülü, Wan Syaheedah Wan Ghazali. Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on physical activity behavior among students in Somalia[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2024, 11(2): 459-476. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2024023

    Related Papers:

  • Background

    Due to the worldwide reach of the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities across the globe deemed it essential to enforce exceptional containment measures. Maintaining physical activity (PA) during this time was only feasible through engaging in activities at home. Therefore, this study focused on elucidating the levels of PA and well-being among Somali students in the aftermath of the lockdown measures implemented by governments at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

     Methods

    This study was conducted in Somalia among undergraduate students studying at Somali International University. A total of 1266 students were included in the present study. An online survey was utilized to measure participant PA behavior. The assessment of PA was conducted in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, utilizing the Godin Leisure questionnaire. The study showed that 85.8% of the study participants (n = 1086) were between the ages of 17 and 22. More than half of the participants (58.7%, n = 743) were female and had no other employment (57.3%, n = 743).

     Results

    Jogging was the most frequently reported PA (57.3%, n = 726), and PA level was on average 59.7 minutes per day (SD = 25.9). Also, most of the study participants were in their last year (82.1%). In the regression analysis, age, gender, academic year, and work status were significant predictors of being physically active after the COVID-19 pandemic.

     Conclusion

    Factors affecting PA after the COVID-19 pandemic include age, gender, academic year, and work status. Males, younger individuals, and those who engage in outdoor exercise are more likely to be physically active. Once the COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed, undergraduate students in Somalia were physically active. A high level of PA appears to be advantageous for public health. Universities in Somalia should uphold school policies that promote an active lifestyle among students, aiming to maintain or enhance the existing level of PA.


    加载中

    Acknowledgments


    This research was funded by the School of Medical Sciences of the Universiti Sains Malaysia, grant number 304.PPSP.6315639.

    Conflict of interest


    The authors declare no conflict of interest.

    [1] Lu R, Zhao X, Li J, et al. (2020) Genomic characterisation and epidemiology of 2019 novel coronavirus: implications for virus origins and receptor binding. Lancet 395: 565-574. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30251-8
    [2] Burki TK (2020) Cancer guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Oncol 21: 629-630. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(20)30217-5
    [3] Mehta V, Goel S, Kabarriti R, et al. (2020) Case fatality rate of cancer patients with COVID-19 in a New York hospital system. Cancer Discov 10: 935-941. https://doi.org/10.1158/2159-8290.CD-20-0516
    [4] Jabal KA, Ben-Amram H, Beiruti K, et al. (2021) Impact of age, ethnicity, sex and prior infection status on immunogenicity following a single dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine: real-world evidence from healthcare workers, Israel, December 2020 to January 2021. Eurosurveillance 26: 2100096. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.6.2100096
    [5] Braam DH, Srinivasan S, Church L, et al. (2021) Lockdowns, lives and livelihoods: the impact of COVID-19 and public health responses to conflict affected populations-a remote qualitative study in Baidoa and Mogadishu, Somalia. Confl Health 15: 47. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-021-00382-5
    [6] Akulwar-Tajane I, Darvesh M, Ghule M, et al. (2021) Effects of COVID-19 pandemic lock down on posture in physiotherapy students: a cross-sectional study. Med Clin Res 6: 91-102. https://doi.org/10.33140/MCR.05.018
    [7] Margaritis I, Houdart S, El Ouadrhiri Y, et al. (2020) How to deal with COVID-19 epidemic-related lockdown physical inactivity and sedentary increase in youth? Adaptation of Anses' benchmarks. Arch Public Health 78: 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-020-00432-z
    [8] Gülü M, Ayyıldız E (2022) Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on barriers to middle-aged adults' participation in physical activity in Turkey: a cross-sectional study. J Mens Health 18: 60. https://doi.org/10.31083/j.jomh1803060
    [9] Yapici H, Yagin FH, Emlek B, et al. (2023) Examining barriers to participation in physical activity: a study of adults. J Exerc Sci Phys Act Rev 1: 1-11.
    [10] Faulkner J, O'Brien WJ, McGrane B, et al. (2021) Physical activity, mental health and well-being of adults during initial COVID-19 containment strategies: A multi-country cross-sectional analysis. J Sci Med Sport 24: 320-326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2020.11.016
    [11] Marya A, Karobari MI, Selvaraj S, et al. (2021) Risk perception of SARS-CoV-2 infection and implementation of various protective measures by dentists across various countries. Int J Environ Res Public Health 18: 5848. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115848
    [12] Brooks SK, Webster RK, Smith LE, et al. (2020) Rapid review. Lancet 395: 912-920. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30460-8
    [13] Al-Mhanna SB, Wan Ghazali WS, Maqsood A, et al. (2023) Physical activities pre-and post-COVID-19 vaccination and its implementations: A narrative review. SAGE Open Med 11: 20503121231158981. https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121231158981
    [14] Thomas P, Baldwin C, Bissett B, et al. (2020) Physiotherapy management for COVID-19 in the acute hospital setting: clinical practice recommendations. J Physiother 66: 73-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2020.03.011
    [15] Kercher VM, Kercher K, Bennion T, et al. (2022) 2022 Fitness Trends from around the Globe. ACSMs Health Fit J 26: 21-37. https://doi.org/10.1249/FIT.0000000000000737
    [16] Kercher VM, Kercher K, Bennion T, et al. (2021) Fitness trends from around the globe. ACSMs Health Fit J 25: 20-31. https://doi.org/10.1249/FIT.0000000000000639
    [17] Kercher VM, Kercher K, Levy P, et al. (2023) 2023 Fitness Trends from Around the Globe. ACSMs Health Fit J 27: 19-30. https://doi.org/10.1249/FIT.0000000000000836
    [18] Al-Mhanna SB, Mohamed M, Noor NM, et al. (2022) Effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation among COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Healthcare 10: 2130. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10112130
    [19] Ugurlu D, Emlek B, Yapici H, et al. (2023) Examination of physical activity levels of Turkish adults living in Rural and Urban Areas. J Exerc Sci Phys Act Rev 1: 12-23.
    [20] Gülü M, Yapici H, Mainer-Pardos E, et al. (2022) Investigation of obesity, eating behaviors and physical activity levels living in rural and urban areas during the covid-19 pandemic era: a study of Turkish adolescent. BMC Pediatr 22: 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-022-03473-1
    [21] Ugurlu D, Emlek B, Yagin FH, et al. (2023) Examination of physical activity levels of university students. J Exerc Sci Phys Act Rev 1: 35-45.
    [22] Emlek B, Yapici H, Ayan S, et al. (2023) Investigation of physical activity levels in adolescents. J Exerc Sci Phys Act Rev 1: 46-56.
    [23] Chekroud SR, Gueorguieva R, Zheutlin AB, et al. (2018) Association between physical exercise and mental health in 1· 2 million individuals in the USA between 2011 and 2015: a cross-sectional study. Lancet Psychiat 5: 739-746. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30227-X
    [24] Al-Mhanna SB, Mohamed M, Mohd Noor N, et al. (2022) Effects of circuit training on patients with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Healthcare 10: 2041. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10102041
    [25] Chen Q, Liang M, Li Y, et al. (2020) Mental health care for medical staff in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. Lancet Psychiat 7: e15-e16. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30078-X
    [26] Yang Y, Li W, Zhang Q, et al. (2020) Mental health services for older adults in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. Lancet Psychiat 7: e19. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30079-1
    [27] Lei L, Huang X, Zhang S, et al. (2020) Comparison of prevalence and associated factors of anxiety and depression among people affected by versus people unaffected by quarantine during the COVID-19 epidemic in southwestern China. Med Sci Monit 26: e924609. https://doi.org/10.12659/MSM.924609
    [28] Cao W, Fang Z, Hou G, et al. (2020) The psychological impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on college students in China. Psychiat Re 287: 112934. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112934
    [29] Al-Mhanna SB, Wan Ghazali WS, Mohamed M, et al. (2022) The impact of COVID-19 on physical activity patterns of dental students: a multinational survey. Healthcare 10: 2140. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10112140
    [30] Lesser IA, Nienhuis CP (2020) The impact of COVID-19 on physical activity behavior and well-being of Canadians. Int J Environ Res Public Health 17: 3899. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17113899
    [31] Godin G (2011) The Godin-Shephard leisure-time physical activity questionnaire. Health Fit J Canada 4: 18-22.
    [32] Warburton DE, Charlesworth S, Ivey A, et al. (2010) A systematic review of the evidence for Canada's physical activity guidelines for adults. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 7: 39. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-7-39
    [33] Nguyen J, Brymer E (2018) Nature-based guided imagery as an intervention for state anxiety. Front Psychol 9: 1858. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01858
    [34] Nisbet EK, Zelenski JM, Murphy SAJE, et al. (2009) The nature relatedness scale: Linking individuals' connection with nature to environmental concern and behavior. Environ Behav 41: 715-740. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916508318748
    [35] Sáez I, Solabarrieta J, Rubio I (2021) Motivation for physical activity in university students and its relation with gender, amount of activities, and sport satisfaction. Sustainability 13: 3183. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063183
    [36] DHSCUK Chief Medical Officers Physical Activity Guidelines, Lonndon, UK, 2019 (2019).
    [37] UK GPhysical activity guidelines: UK chief medical officers' report (2021).
    [38] Hurter L, McNarry M, Stratton G, et al. (2022) Back to school after lockdown: The effect of COVID-19 restrictions on children's device-based physical activity metrics. J Sport Health Sci 11: 530-536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2022.01.009
    [39] Devlin JT, Dhalac D, Suldan AA, et al. (2012) Determinants of physical activity among Somali women living in Maine. J Immigr Minor Health 14: 300-306. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-011-9469-2
    [40] Ahmed SH, Meyer HE, Kjøllesdal MK, et al. (2018) Prevalence and predictors of overweight and obesity among Somalis in Norway and Somaliland: a comparative study. J Obes 2018: 4539171. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/4539171
    [41] Hallal PC, Victora CG, Wells JCK, et al. (2003) Physical inactivity: prevalence and associated variables in Brazilian adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 35: 1894-1900. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.0000093615.33774.0E
    [42] Ham S, Yore M, Fulton J, et al. (2004) Prevalence of no leisure-time physical activity-35 states and the District of Columbia, 1988–2002. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 53: 82-86.
    [43] Forrest K, Bunker CH, Kriska AM, et al. (2001) Physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors in a developing population. Med Sci Sports Exerc 33: 1598-1604. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200109000-00025
    [44] Martin SB, Morrow JR, Jackson AW, et al. (2000) Variables related to meeting the CDC/ACSM physical activity guidelines. Med Sci Sports Exerc 32: 2087-2092. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200012000-00019
    [45] Macera CA, Jones DA, Yore M, et al. (2003) Prevalence of physical activity, including lifestyle activities among adults-United States, 2000–2001. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 52: 764-769.
    [46] Abrantes MM, Lamounier JA, Colosimo EA (2003) Overweight and obesity prevalence in Northeast and Southeast Regions of Brazil. Rev Assoc Med Bras 49: 162-166. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-42302003000200034
    [47] Ahmed N, Kalil MNA, Yusof W, et al. (2022) A performance assessment study of different clinical samples for rapid COVID-19 antigen diagnosis tests. Diagnostics 12: 847. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12040847
    [48] Ahmed N, Rizvi A, Naeem A, et al. (2020) COVID-19 and public awareness. Prof Med J 27: 1710-1716. https://doi.org/10.29309/TPMJ/2020.27.08.4655
    [49] Stockwell S, Trott M, Tully M, et al. (2021) Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: a systematic review. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 7: e000960. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000960
    [50] Medrano M, Cadenas-Sanchez C, Oses M, et al. (2021) Changes in lifestyle behaviours during the COVID-19 confinement in Spanish children: A longitudinal analysis from the MUGI project. Pediatr Obes 16: e12731. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.12731
    [51] Dunton GF, Do B, Wang SD (2020) Early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity and sedentary behavior in children living in the US. BMC Public Health 20: 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09429-3
    [52] Maugeri G, Castrogiovanni P, Battaglia G, et al. (2020) The impact of physical activity on psychological health during Covid-19 pandemic in Italy. Heliyon 6: e04315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04315
    [53] Al-Mhanna SB, Ghazali WSW, Mohamed M, et al. (2022) Evaluation of physical activity among undergraduate students in Mogadishu Universities in the aftermath of COVID-19 restrictions. PeerJ 10: e14131. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14131
    [54] Schöttl SE, Schnitzer M, Savoia L, et al. (2022) Physical activity behavior during and after COVID-19 stay-at-home orders—A longitudinal study in the Austrian, German, and Italian Alps. Front Public Health 10: 901763. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.901763
    [55] Hargreaves EA, Lee C, Jenkins M, et al. (2021) Changes in physical activity pre-, during and post-lockdown COVID-19 restrictions in New Zealand and the explanatory role of daily hassles. Front Psychol 12: 642954. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.642954
    [56] Rezapour M, Dehzangi A, Saadati F (2022) Students' negative emotions and their rational and irrational behaviors during COVID-19 outbreak. PLoS One 17: e0264985. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264985
    [57] Davis C, Cowles MJSR (1991) Body image and exercise: A study of relationships and comparisons between physically active men and women. Sex Roles 25: 33-44. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00289315
    [58] Lustyk MKB, Widman L, Paschane AA, et al. (2004) Physical activity and quality of life: assessing the influence of activity frequency, intensity, volume, and motives. Behav Med 30: 124-132. https://doi.org/10.3200/BMED.30.3.124-132
    [59] Tiggemann M, Williamson S (2000) The effect of exercise on body satisfaction and self-esteem as a function of gender and age. Sex Roles 43: 119-127. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007095830095
    [60] Nielsen L, Reiss D (2012) Motivation and aging: Toward the next generation of behavioral interventions. Washington, DC: NIA–BBCSS Expert Meeting.
    [61] Cornine A (2020) Reducing nursing student anxiety in the clinical setting: An integrative review. Nurs Educ Perspect 41: 229-234. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000633
    [62] Colley RC, Bushnik T, Langlois K (2020) Exercise and screen time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health Rep 31: 3-11.
    [63] Triguero-Mas M, Donaire-Gonzalez D, Seto E, et al. (2017) Natural outdoor environments and mental health: Stress as a possible mechanism. Environ Res 159: 629-638. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.08.048
    [64] Martyn P, Brymer E (2016) The relationship between nature relatedness and anxiety. J Health Psychol 21: 1436-1445. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105314555169
    [65] Xiao C (2020) A novel approach of consultation on 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19)-related psychological and mental problems: structured letter therapy. Psychiatry Investig 17: 175-176. https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2020.0047
    [66] Kmietowicz Z (2020) Rules on isolation rooms for suspected covid-19 cases in GP surgeries to be relaxed. BMJ 368: m707. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m707
    [67] Brailovskaia J, Cosci F, Mansueto G, et al. (2021) The association between depression symptoms, psychological burden caused by Covid-19 and physical activity: An investigation in Germany, Italy, Russia, and Spain. Psychiatry Res 295: 113596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113596
    [68] Dominski FH, Brandt R (2020) Do the benefits of exercise in indoor and outdoor environments during the COVID-19 pandemic outweigh the risks of infection?. Sport Sci Health 17: 267. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-020-00686-8
    [69] Smith GL, Banting L, Eime R, et al. (2017) The association between social support and physical activity in older adults: a systematic review. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 14: 56. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-017-0509-8
    [70] Fallon K (2020) Exercise in the time of COVID-19. Aust J Gen Pract 49: 1-2. https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-COVID-13
    [71] Batrakoulis A, Keskin K, Fatolahi S, et al. (2024) Health and fitness trends in the post-COVID-19 era in Turkey: A cross-sectional study. Ann Appl Sport Sci . https://doi.org/10.61186/aassjournal.1271
  • Reader Comments
  • © 2024 the Author(s), licensee AIMS Press. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com
  • 1. 

    沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院 沈阳 110142

  1. 本站搜索
  2. 百度学术搜索
  3. 万方数据库搜索
  4. CNKI搜索
AIMS Public Health
3.1 4.8

Metrics

Article views(416) PDF downloads(55) Cited by(0)

Preview PDF
Download XML
Export Citation
Article outline

Figures and Tables

Tables(4)

Other Articles By Authors

Related pages

Tools

/

DownLoad:  Full-Size Img  PowerPoint
Return
Return

Catalog