title: Perceived barriers to physical activity among Nigerian stroke survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Benefits of physical activity in the prevention and management of stroke are well documented in the literature. There is increasing evidence that stroke survivors in South-West Nigeria are physically inactive. Data on barriers to the achievement of the recommended physical activity levels including its differences along socio-demographic characteristics among stroke survivors in South-West Nigeria are needed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Exercise Benefits and Barrier Scale and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were administered on 121 stroke survivors to determine their perceived barriers to physical activity and physical activity levels respectively. Information on socio-demographic data and clinical variables were also collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample included 70.2% males, with majority of the participants reporting low physical activity levels (80.2%) and high perceived barriers (Mean = 48.13, SD = 7.88). The four most reported common barriers among stroke survivors were access to exercise facilities (95.0%), being embarrassed to exercise (94.2%), economic cost demands of exercise (94.2%) and notion that people in exercise clothes look funny (94.2%) respectively. There were no significant differences found in barriers to physical activity between gender (U = 1471.00, P = 0.74) and across each of: occupational status (H = 4.37, P = 0.22), age group (H = 0.82, P = 0.84) and educational levels (H = 4.56, P = 0.33). Significant difference however existed in perceived barriers across marital status categories (H = 12.87, P = 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stroke survivors indicated high perceived barriers to physical activity and these barriers were associated with marital status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin-City, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Opeyemi Ayodiipo
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Idowu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ade Fatai
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Adeniyi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Omoyemi Olubunmi
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Ogwumike
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin-City, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Henrietta Oluwafunmilola
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Fawole
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research and Ageing, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Southampton, England.
authors.forename: Olayinka
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Akinrolie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009549:Nigeria; D010465:Perception; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Nigeria; Stroke survivors; perceived barriers; physical activity