Abstract:
Physical inactivity is a public health issue and this study was designed to assess the effectiveness of a community
based health promotional intervention to improve physical activity among sample of women in a rural village.
This community-based health promotional intervention, designed and conducted based on participatory action
research-design conducted in Poothoddam village among a random sample of fifty eligible women of 30-55 years
was assessed using the pre-post assessment in comparison to a control group in Puthukkulam. Going by the
principles of participatory action research model, the intervention structure was mutually designed with the women
in the intervention group. The determinants of physical inactivity were jointly identified and prioritized. Intervention
was implemented over 4 months, as a series of discussions and activity sessions in small groups.
The level of physical activity was measured using Tamil version of International Physical Activity Questionnaire
short version previously validated to Sri Lanka.
Reduction in the physically inactive category in the intervention group was significant (p<0.05) while the reduction
in the control group was not (p>0.05).
The community based health promotional intervention was effective in improving physical activity. The study
recommends scaling up of this intervention to women in rural communities
