Abstract

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has well-known metabolic side effects, although people with HIV who use it frequently live long, healthy lives. Improvement of various physiological indicators is reported to be significantly influenced by physical activity. The purpose of this study was to assess the degree of physical activity and related variables among HIV patients in Ethiopia.

Methods: From May to June 2019, a cross-sectional study with an institutional focus was carried out. In three chosen hospitals in Southern Ethiopia, we chose 422 adult HIV patients who were attending antiretroviral therapy clinics. Using a pre-tested structured questionnaire, nine trained nurses collected data during routine care appointments. The International Physical Exercise Questionnaire was used to gauge the level of physical activity (IPAQ).

Result: The mean age of participants was 38.7 ± 9.13 years. Of the participants, 68% were physically inactive, with a higher proportion of inactive women (74%) than men (61%) [(AOR = 1.64, 95% CI (1.07, 2.53)]. In addition, urban vs. rural residents [(AOR = 2.57, 95% CI (1.16, 5.72)] and patients who were on ART for ≥ 24 months [(AOR = 1.88, 95% CI (1.15, 3.08)] had higher odds of having a low physical activity level.

Conclusion: The majority of HIV-positive individuals on ART engage in little physical exercise. Low levels of physical activity are more prevalent among patients who are female, live in cities, and have longer treatment durations. It is necessary to gain more understanding of the causes of the lack of physical activity among HIV patients, and initiatives for this population in developing nations must be created.