Physical exercise or sport of the old-adult and oldest old and the knowledge of them government programs: National Health Survey 2013

Abstract

Objective: describe and relate the practice, participation, knowledge and reason of non-participation in programs of exercise or sport offered by government programs to old-adult and the oldest old.

Methods: secondary analysis of results of the Brazilian 2013 National Health Survey. We analyzed the frequency of responses to the questions P34 (physical exercise or sport), P47 (knowledge of a public program of physical exercise or sport), P48 (participation in these programs), P49 (reason not to participate in these programs) and P36 (physical exercise or sport that practices more often) in two age groups: old-adult (60 to 79 years) and oldest old (80 or more). The chi-square statistical test was used to verify the distribution considering p<0.05.

Results: The study had 9,679 young elderly and 1,498 oldest old. Most Brazilians older-adult 78,9% did not exercise with significant differences between old-adult (77,3%) and oldest old (89,3%). Furthermore, 81,6% did not know the existence of public programs and those who know the vast majority did not participate, 82,6%. The most common reason for non-participation was the lack of interest (39%) and walking is the modality more attractive 58,4%.

Conclusions: The study reveals a low compliance of the older-adult in physical exercise or sport practices. This study shows a necessity to publicize and increase the diversity of public programs to encourage the exercise or sport in these people. New studies into the communication mechanisms used in the public network for disclosure of these programs are encouraged.