Table Of ContentMisconceptions about Physical Activity among Ghanaian Youth
Phidelia Theresa Doegah
Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ho, Ghana
Acheampong Yaw Amoateng
School of Research and Postgraduate Studies North-West University (Mafikeng Campus),
South Africa.
1 Corresponding Author
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Abstract
According to scholars, non-communicable diseases usually emerge in middle age after a long
exposure to such unhealthy lifestyle behaviours as a lack of regular physical activity, and
consumption of diets rich in saturated fats, sugars, and salt. Physical inactivity has been
found to be a leading risk factor of mortality globally and individuals are thus encouraged to
engage in physical activity as a means to reduce their risk to non-communicable diseases. In
selecting participants for the Focus Group Discussions a purposive sampling technique was
used and thematic analysis was employed on the data to arrive at results. Results indicated
youth view physical activity solely as a means to appear physically attractive or appealing in
using it to manage their weight or body size than for health reasons and others view it as time
wasting thus prefers not to engage in it. Further, the perceived relationship by female youth
between physical activity and chastity prevents physical activity among them. It is essential
to understand the misconceptions prevailing among the youth regarding physical activity if
physical inactivity as a leading risk factor of non-communicable diseases is to be reduced.
Keywords: Physical activity, Youth, Qualitative research, Non-communicable disease,
Ghana
INTRODUCTION
Physical inactivity is identified as a risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and
obesity (WHO, 2017). The growing incidence of lifestyle diseases in sub-Saharan Africa
(SSA) according to Steyn & Damasceno (2006) has been attributed to the replacement of
traditional practices such as walking long distances, and habitual physical labour by
motorized transport and sedentary activities, especially, in urban settings.
As far as Ghana is concerned, NCDs such as stroke, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes are
now among the top ten in-patient causes of death (Bosu, 2007; WHO, 2016) causing about
88,200 deaths in 2012 (WHO, 2014). NCDs usually emerge in middle age after a long
exposure to such unhealthy lifestyle as physical inactivity (e.g. Chitson, 1994; Steyn &
Damasceno, 2006). However, in recent years, studies have observed the prevalence of NCDs
amongst youth in SSA (Patton et al., 2009; Steyn & Damasceno, 2006). It is against this
background that this study is conducted.
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Physical inactivity has been shown to contribute to NCDs and BMI. In relation to NCDs, Lee
et al., (2012) attributed 6% of the coronary heart disease burden, 7% of type 2 diabetes, 10%
of breast and colon cancers worldwide to physical inactivity. In terms of obesity, Petribú,
Tassitano, Nascimento, Santos, & Cabral (2011); Dupuy, Godeau, Vignes, & Ahluwalia
(2011); Valery et al., (2012); Di Milia, Vandelanotte, & Duncan (2013); and Rivas-Marino et
al., (2015) observed overweight or obese individuals to be physically inactive.
Despite the negative implications of physical inactivity, most Ghanaian youth are observed to
be physically inactive (Doegah, unpublished data, October 2016) and no existing study to the
best of our knowledge has explored misconceptions in terms of physical activity amongst
Ghanaian youth. This work aims to fill this gap by use of qualitative research.
METHODS
In selecting participants for the focus group discussions (FGD) a purposive sampling
technique was used. The criterion for selection was for participants to be 15–34 years and be
either a male or female (i.e. homogeneous on two characteristics namely age and sex). This is
because the study sought to gather information among male and female youths regarding
their physical activity. The FGDs were conducted between September 2015 and January 2016
within two urbanised towns in the Greater Accra and Volta regions of Ghana. Greater Accra
contains the national capital hence the most developed of the regions. Within the region, the
James Town (British Accra) and Ussher Town (Dutch Accra) localities were selected for the
discussions. James Town and Ussher Town form part of the central business district of Accra
the capital city of the Greater Accra region therefore urbanised and thus their selection. Ho
was selected in the Volta region as the most urbanised since it is the capital city of the region.
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Research assistants searched for available male and female residents of the communities
within the specified age groups to participate in the discussions.
Data collection took the form of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) conducted among four
groups. Participants were divided into two groups 15–24 years and 25–34 years and each age
group had two groups comprising males and females. For each age group and sex there were
two FGDs giving a total of eight (8) interviews. Ethics approval (N W U - 0 0 2 2 4 - 1 5 - A
9) was granted by North-West University Institutional Research Ethics Regulatory
Committee (NWU-IRERC) South Africa and additionally the verbal consent of participants
were obtained prior to the interviews. Questions for the FGDs included,
a. “What importance do people your age attach to regular physical activity?
b. What do they do that is considered as physical activity?
c. How common is it to see them doing physical activity?
Male and female moderators respectively conducted the male and female interviews. The
interviews were recorded and notes were taken as well. Interviews were conducted in the Ga,
Ewe and English languages.
All interviews were transcribed, field notes typed and data well read to familiarise with the
data. Analysis was carried out on the textual data using ATLAS Ti to develop descriptive
codes and analytical themes. In this work, “physical activity and exercise” are used
simultaneously to refer to any activity or bodily movement that result in physical/body
fitness.
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RESULTS
The results are presented largely under the following categories namely, importance attached
to physical activity, and the misconceptions in relation to physical activity and supporting
evidence.
Importance Attached to Physical Activity
Due to the benefits attached to physical activity, the importance participants attached to it are
discussed as this may serve as an internal motivation to engage in physically involving
activities. This has been identified as the therapeutic effect.
Therapeutic Effect
Individuals engage in physical activities for reasons of its health benefits generally in
reducing risk to illnesses or sicknesses. This means some individuals are equipped with
knowledge on health benefits in relation to physical activity and this knowledge is
compelling them into being physically active as illustrated in the following:
“Also they think doing these physical activities jogging, running makes them fit and not be
always sick and those stuffs.” (Female, 15–24 years, English).
“It also helps to burn excess fat in the body.” (Female, 15–24 years, English).
The data showed that physical activities are popular among the youth, though some engage in
it unintentionally and others probably based on the importance attached to it. The awareness
of the merits concerning physical activity showed some youth taking up physical activity,
whilst others do not because of the lack of knowledge of it. On how common or uncommon
physical activity is among the youth, is illustrated in the following comments:
“It is very common because in our age group our parents do send us a lot. So while you are
walking you may think like you are just running an errand, but little do you know that you are
helping your body.” (Female, 15–24 years, English).
“The people in the community do exercise, like jogging or keeping fit.” (Female, 25–34
years, Ga).
However, a member of one group expressed otherwise:
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“Once before you see someone dressed that he or she is going to do a physical activity.”
(Female, 25–34 years, English).
Misconceptions
Despite the importance and the relationship identified between physical activity and body
size, regular physical activity was not seen to be common across board. Discussed here
therefore are some identified misconceived notions about physical activity.
Physical Appearance and Weight Management
One prevailing misconception among the youth is that, physical activity is only for enhancing
physical appearance and acquiring a desired body weight. It is therefore seen to be the
preserve for fat individuals. Thus, to appear physically attractive or appealing as well as
manage their weight or body size, the youth are motivated to engage in physical activities.
This becomes their motivation rather than the health benefits of engaging in such activities.
This is shown in quotes below:
“They think that when they go they will reduce their weight.” (Female, 15–24 years, English).
“I’ll say they do. My sister like this used to go to the gym because she is fat, so she is trying
to reduce her weight. So she use it a lot.” (Female, 25–34 years, English).
“Some also take it to be prestigious, to have six packs. When you lift your shirt people see it
like ‘macho’ [strong] man and people will appreciate you.” (Male, 15–24 years, English).
Busy schedules
The youth do not want to be burdened with physical activities due to their busy schedules.
They conceive physical activity to be time wasting as mostly it requires getting up early to
visit the gyms usually far from home. This is an indication of the lack of knowledge of the
benefit of physical activity among the youth. The following quotes showed this:
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“For me, no, because most of my friends are busy with their studies and social media and
stuff so they don’t really have time for jogging and exercise. Unless of course it is an
excursion or a games programme being organised, they don’t exercise.” (Female, 25–34
years, English).
“For some Sundays or Saturdays are for climbing the mountain and just to have fun.” (Male,
25–34 years, English).
Upbringing
The lack of knowledge about the benefits of physical activity due to the nature of upbringing
has created an environment for misconceiving physical activity. As the youth grow up
without observing such behaviours they are not likely to engage in physical activity. As
illustrated for instance in the following quote:
“And if you are not used to it, you just can’t get up every morning and say you are going for
jogging, but if you’ve done it before then you are used to it even with that your working thing
you can still do it and go to work.” (Female, 25–34 years, English).
“I have a friend who always says I wasn’t brought up walking, my daddy always picks me
wherever I want to go whenever so even if the car is not available I have money to pick
taxis.” (Female, 15–24 years, English).
Chastity
A misconception with regards to physical activity is seen in the societal values in relation to
chastity. Sex is expected to happen within marriage to prevent promiscuity and for that
reason the youth are encouraged to avoid premarital sex. Consequently, the youth strive to
prove their virginity at marriage. Because of this, female youth are reluctant to engage in
physical activity since physical activity is perceived as threat to maintaining a girl’s virginity.
This may also be a means of preventing females from sports since females in sports are
perceived to be masculine in appearance. This is illustrated below:
“Some ladies they have the perception that when you engage in exercises your hymen will be
broken and then if they marry the man ask if they are virgins and they say yes and they go on
the bed and after the first sexual intercourse and there is no blood the man will say you are
not a virgin meanwhile it was because of the exercises they have done your hymen is broken.
So they are with fear that if they go into marriage their husbands may not trust them because
they think they are not virgins.” (Male, 25–34 years, English).
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DISCUSSION
There is a scarcity of studies on the physical inactivity of youth aged between 15 ‒ 34 years.
The aim of this work therefore was to use qualitative method to explore the misconceptions
of youth’s about physical activity. The rationale for this effort was to provide information on
contextual factors surrounding physical inactivity among the youth in Ghana. The data
showed that the youth are aware of the therapeutic importance of physical activity but it is
uncommon among them.
One major misconception about physical activity is that it is for reducing or managing body
size. This is consistent with findings from Walter & Randt (2011) who found physical
inactivity among black Isixhosa speaking professional women to be associated with
undesirable weight loss. Physical appearance is important to Ghanaian youth. Consequently
they appreciate anything that will give them a good physical appearance. Thus alternatives to
physical activity are offered in the form of body slimming medicines and surgeries. These are
currently invading through advertising to the Ghanaian culture to reduce weight. Because
youth who generally engage in physical activities do so for their physical appearances and not
for therapeutic reasons, such means (medicines and surgeries) have come as a relief.
Another misconceived notion affecting the uptake of physical activity among Ghanaian youth
has been associated with busy schedules. This is because, the youth perceive themselves to be
busy and physical activity is seen to take much time. Since traditional Ghanaian occupations
i.e. farming and fishing entails much physical labour the society do not necessarily perceive
the need to instil a habit of intentional physical activity within the socialisation process.
Upbringing as a source of misconceiving physical activity among Ghanaian youth is
consistent with findings by Walter & Randt (2011) who identified exercise as not being a part
of the African culture among black Isixhosa speaking professional women in South Africa.
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Moreover, chastity has further been identified in the study as a misconception affecting
physical activity among Ghanaian youth.
In conclusion, this study has shown that, misconceived notions about physical activity among
Ghanaian youth relates to physical appearance and weight management, busy schedules,
upbringing and chastity. In the face of growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases
(NCDs) and obesity in Ghana, where physical inactivity serves as a risk factor for both, there
is the need for policymakers and stakeholders to intervene by demystifying physical activity
by educating the populace about the health benefits of regular physical activity.
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Description:Phidelia Theresa Doegah. Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ho, Ghana. Acheampong best of our knowledge has explored misconceptions in terms of physical activity amongst. Ghanaian youth. This work aims to fill this gap by use of qualitative research.
