title: Physical Activity Levels Among Adults in Uganda: Findings From a Countrywide Cross-Sectional Survey.
abstract: Being physically active is associated with lower risk of many noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). We analyzed physical activity (PA) data collected as part of Uganda's countrywide NCD risk factor survey conducted in 2014, to describe PA levels in Uganda.
  
  
  
  PA data were collected on the domains of work, travel and leisure. We calculated the percentage of participants meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) PA recommendations, and the types of intense-specific duration of PA. Prevalence ratios (PR) were used to identify factors associated with meeting WHO PA recommendations.
  
  
  
  Of the 3987 participants, 3758 (94.3%) met the WHO PA recommendations. Work-related PA of moderate intensity, and travel-related PA contributed most to participants' overall weekly duration of PA, each contributing 49.6% and 25.2% respectively. The median weekly duration of all moderate-intensity PA was 1470 minutes (interquartile range [IQR] = 540 to 2460). Weekly duration of all vigorous-intensity PA was low with a median of 0 minutes (IQR = 0 to 1080). The median daily sedentary time was 120 minutes (IQR = 60 to 240). Factors significantly associated with meeting WHO PA recommendations were body mass index and level of education.
  
  
  
  PA levels in Uganda are high, mostly achieved through travel and work-related activities of moderate intensity.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guwatudde
authors.forename: Barbara E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Kirunda
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wesonga
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mutungi
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kajjura
authors.forename: Hafisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kasule
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muwonge
authors.forename: Silver K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bahendeka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014454:Uganda; D014505:Urban Population; D014944:World Health Organization; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Africa; Uganda; WHO STEPs; WHO physical activity recommendations; non-communicable diseases