Nível de conhecimento dos idosos sobre os benefícios da prática de actividade física no Bairro Maxaquene-Maputo

Abstract

The assessment of the orderly’s knowledge about the practice of Physical Activity is necessary due to the great benefits it presents, in which the physical, mental and functional aspects are encompassed Objective: To evaluate the level of knowledge of the elderly about the benefits of practice of Physical Activity for health in the Ka-Maxaquene-Maputo neighborhood. Material and Methods: This is a quantitative-qualitative study of a descriptive nature. Fifty elderly individuals of both sexes participated in the study N=50 (100%) between 60 and 90 years of age. Divided into age groups: 60 to 70 n=34 (53.1%); 71 to 80 n=10 (15.6%) and 81 to 90 years of age n=6 (9.4%). For data collection, a specific questionnaire was applied to assess the population's perception and knowledge about the activity physics (Domingues, Araujo and Gigabte, 2004) applied to both sexes. Results: Knowledge about the benefits of practicing Physical Activity (4.92±1.066), knowledge about the frequency and duration of practicing Physical Activity (3.46±1.403), level of importance of PA practice (3.16±0.681), knowledge they have about Physical Activity (3.00±1.030) stand out as the most influential. Less influential was the knowledge of those sampled regarding the benefits to combat diseases: cancer (2.62±0.725), cholesterol (2.58±0.609), high blood pressure (2.24±0.555) and osteoporosis (2.04±0.450); reasons for practicing Physical Activity (psychological aspects) insomnia (2.26±0.527), anxiety (2.26±0.777), depression (2.18±0.0.774) and stress (2.06±0.373), level of incentive to practice Physical Activity through of relatives or friends with (1.70±0.463) most influential, doctor (1.58±0.499); averages of communication (1.34±0.479) and teacher guidance (1.20±0.404). Conclusions: the literature is consistent in pointing out that knowledge about the benefits of practicing Physical Activity by the elderly is extremely important for this special population. It is currently considered a necessity to carry out research that promotes these studies; the current state of the level of knowledge about the benefits of practicing PA by the elderly in the study carried out is relatively reasonable. The level of knowledge perceived by the target population showed variations in results according to age groups, gender, level of interest and intrinsic and extrinsic motivation as well as the decline in physical and mental physiological functions influenced this.