Predictors of Physical Activity in Kazakhstan University Students

Abstract

Assessing physical activity in Kazakhstan university students and identifying its predictors may help plan, advocate and implement effective public health interventions. This cross-sectional survey of 889 students of all years of study at al-Farabi Kazakh National University was completed in May 2017. Selected variables were tested in adjusted logistic regression models to predict regular physical activity (RPA) or walking 6 km every day. Sixty-one percent of female and 54% of male students (p<0.05) walked 6 km a day. 54% of female and 72% of male students (p<0.001) exercised at least 3 times a week for 40 min. Being a male (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.04 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.47;2.84) and sleeping for 8 hours predicted RPA (OR 1.47 (95% CI 1.07;2.01)). Alcohol use (OR 0.44 (95% CI 0.30;0.65)), waterpipe smoking (OR 0.53 (95% CI 0.37;0.75) and sleeping 8 hours (OR 1.67 (95% CI 1.20;2.33)) predicted walking 6 km a day or more. Identified health disparity between female and male students should guide public health interventions in the university students’ community.

Key words: physical, training, university, health behavior, tobacco, students