부산대학교 도서관

Background We investigated the criterion validity of a physical activity index (PAI) derived from socio-demographic variables obtained from convenience samples of rural African women. Methods We used a sample (N = 206) from a larger dataset which surveyed adult rural Africans during 1997, and data collected during 2003/4 from 138 adult rural African women. A three-point PAI (low-, medium- and high-subsistence) was constructed from four socio-demographic questions related to electricity, cooking methods, water collection and availability of motorized transport. Criterion measures included measures of adiposity, blood biochemistry, resting blood pressure (RBP), physical fitness (VO.sub.2max ) and single-plane accelerometry (ACC). Results Age, educational level and health status were not related to PAI level (p > 0.1). There was a significant negative, linear trend between the PAI level and adiposity level (p [less than] 0.04), and fasting blood glucose concentration (p [less than] 0.0001), while VO.sub.2max was positively related to PAI level (p = 0.0190). The PAI level was positively and linearly related to ACC output, namely counts.day.sup.-1 .sup.(p = 0.0044), steps.day.sup.-1 .sup.(p = 0.0265), min.day.sup.-1 .sup.of moderate-to-vigorous activity (p = 0.0040), and the percentage of subjects adhering to physical activity public health guidelines (p = 0.0157). Other criterion measures did not reach significance, but were in the expected direction (sedentary behaviour: p > 0.08, RBP: p > 0.07). Conclusion The PAI derived from a socio-demographic questionnaire is a valid instrument for broadly categorizing levels of physical activity for this specific population of rural African women. As the epidemiological transition progresses, validity will need to be re-established.
Authors: Ian Cook (corresponding author) [1]; Marianne Alberts [2]; Estelle V Lambert [3] Background A host of physical activity questionnaires (PAQ) are available for the quantification of human energy expenditure [...]