Refining index to measure physical activity inequality: which group of the population is the most vulnerable?
Abstract Background The existing body of research mostly discusses inequality in physical activity (PA) based on the difference in the level of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Evidence is lacking on the quantified inequality measures (e.g., how big the inequality is, and the distribut...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal for Equity in Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-022-01725-1 |
| _version_ | 1798032597194899456 |
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| author | Dyah Anantalia Widyastari Aunyarat Khanawapee Wanisara Charoenrom Pairoj Saonuam Piyawat Katewongsa |
| author_facet | Dyah Anantalia Widyastari Aunyarat Khanawapee Wanisara Charoenrom Pairoj Saonuam Piyawat Katewongsa |
| author_sort | Dyah Anantalia Widyastari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The existing body of research mostly discusses inequality in physical activity (PA) based on the difference in the level of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Evidence is lacking on the quantified inequality measures (e.g., how big the inequality is, and the distribution) in order to identify the most vulnerable groups of a population. This study measured PA inequality among Thai adults by using three parameters to construct an inequality index: (1) Proportion of the population with sufficient MVPA; (2) Cumulative minutes of MVPA; and (3) The Gini coefficient. Methods This study employed three rounds of data from Thailand’s Surveillance on Physical Activity (SPA) 2019–2021. In each round, over 6,000 individuals age 18–64 years were selected as nationally-representative samples, and were included in the analysis. PA inequality was constructed by using three parameters, with a combination of the three as the final measure, to identify the sub-groups of the Thai adults who are most vulnerable: groups with the least MVPA, highest insufficiency, and highest inequality index (Gini). Results Covid-19 containment measures have widened the gap in PA inequality, as shown by a declining proportion of the population meeting the recommended guidelines, from 74.3% in 2019 to 56.7% in 2020 and 65.5% in 2021. PA inequality existed in all sub-populations. However, by combining three parameters, the most vulnerable groups during the Covid-19 epidemic were identified as follows: (1) Those with no income; (2) The unemployed; (3) Those who have no access to PA facilities; (4) Older adults aged 60 + years; and (5) Those earning < 3,500 baht per month. Further, residents of Bangkok, young adults aged 18–24, individuals who attained primary level education or less, those who had no exposure to a PA awareness campaign and those who have a debilitating chronic disease also had elevated risk of PA insufficiency. Conclusion A concerning level of PA inequality existed in all sub-populations. The use of combined indicators in measuring PA inequality should aid in determining the most vulnerable groups of the population with a refined procedure. This method can be applied in many settings since the baseline data used to measure inequality (i.e., percent sufficient and cumulative minutes of MVPA) are widely available. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:15:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fa3bf40fd7214055a337c02896401f63 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-9276 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:15:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal for Equity in Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-fa3bf40fd7214055a337c02896401f632022-12-22T04:04:59ZengBMCInternational Journal for Equity in Health1475-92762022-08-0121111610.1186/s12939-022-01725-1Refining index to measure physical activity inequality: which group of the population is the most vulnerable?Dyah Anantalia Widyastari0Aunyarat Khanawapee1Wanisara Charoenrom2Pairoj Saonuam3Piyawat Katewongsa4Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol UniversityThailand Physical Activity Knowledge Development Centre (TPAK), Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol UniversityThailand Physical Activity Knowledge Development Centre (TPAK), Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol UniversityThai Health Promotion FoundationInstitute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol UniversityAbstract Background The existing body of research mostly discusses inequality in physical activity (PA) based on the difference in the level of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Evidence is lacking on the quantified inequality measures (e.g., how big the inequality is, and the distribution) in order to identify the most vulnerable groups of a population. This study measured PA inequality among Thai adults by using three parameters to construct an inequality index: (1) Proportion of the population with sufficient MVPA; (2) Cumulative minutes of MVPA; and (3) The Gini coefficient. Methods This study employed three rounds of data from Thailand’s Surveillance on Physical Activity (SPA) 2019–2021. In each round, over 6,000 individuals age 18–64 years were selected as nationally-representative samples, and were included in the analysis. PA inequality was constructed by using three parameters, with a combination of the three as the final measure, to identify the sub-groups of the Thai adults who are most vulnerable: groups with the least MVPA, highest insufficiency, and highest inequality index (Gini). Results Covid-19 containment measures have widened the gap in PA inequality, as shown by a declining proportion of the population meeting the recommended guidelines, from 74.3% in 2019 to 56.7% in 2020 and 65.5% in 2021. PA inequality existed in all sub-populations. However, by combining three parameters, the most vulnerable groups during the Covid-19 epidemic were identified as follows: (1) Those with no income; (2) The unemployed; (3) Those who have no access to PA facilities; (4) Older adults aged 60 + years; and (5) Those earning < 3,500 baht per month. Further, residents of Bangkok, young adults aged 18–24, individuals who attained primary level education or less, those who had no exposure to a PA awareness campaign and those who have a debilitating chronic disease also had elevated risk of PA insufficiency. Conclusion A concerning level of PA inequality existed in all sub-populations. The use of combined indicators in measuring PA inequality should aid in determining the most vulnerable groups of the population with a refined procedure. This method can be applied in many settings since the baseline data used to measure inequality (i.e., percent sufficient and cumulative minutes of MVPA) are widely available.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-022-01725-1PA inequalityCovid-19 epidemicMVPAVulnerable population |
| spellingShingle | Dyah Anantalia Widyastari Aunyarat Khanawapee Wanisara Charoenrom Pairoj Saonuam Piyawat Katewongsa Refining index to measure physical activity inequality: which group of the population is the most vulnerable? International Journal for Equity in Health PA inequality Covid-19 epidemic MVPA Vulnerable population |
| title | Refining index to measure physical activity inequality: which group of the population is the most vulnerable? |
| title_full | Refining index to measure physical activity inequality: which group of the population is the most vulnerable? |
| title_fullStr | Refining index to measure physical activity inequality: which group of the population is the most vulnerable? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Refining index to measure physical activity inequality: which group of the population is the most vulnerable? |
| title_short | Refining index to measure physical activity inequality: which group of the population is the most vulnerable? |
| title_sort | refining index to measure physical activity inequality which group of the population is the most vulnerable |
| topic | PA inequality Covid-19 epidemic MVPA Vulnerable population |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-022-01725-1 |
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