Health status and levels of physical activity among married women during childbearing age in Mosul

Abstract

Physical activity of women through various domestic, occupational works transportation, or leisure-time activities differs according to their age, education, pregnancy status, and general health status. Life style pattern plays an important role in women's health such as smoking, dietary habit and physical activity. Physical activity may help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases of adulthood. The aim of this study to determine the levels of the physical activities of women and prevalence of the diseases and disorders among married women during childbearing age in Mosul. The present research used cross sectional study design and was conducted on randomly selected primary health care centers in Mosul. These centers were Al-Sukar center, Al-Sharqi center, A- Hadbaa center, and Al-Mansoor center, which included 1200 married women who were in the childbearing age (15-49) years for six month duration. The collected data focused on four main aspects. These are demographic aspect, levels of physical activity, main complaints among women, types of diseases and disorders among women. The study revealed that 55.0% of women are having moderate physical activity and 14.0% had heavy activities. Sedentary work women found to form 18.0% of study sample. Generalized tiredness was a common among women, and 44.0% of the women in general were having at least one type of disease at the time of this study. Although the study revealed that married women in the childbearing age in Mosul city were having acceptable levels of physical activity, but musculoskeletal disease was more prevalent among women with heavy activity. Gastrointestinal diseases were detected in women with moderate and mild activities, while psychiatric disorders were frequently present among sedentary women. Special attention will be required to improve general health of women in the childbearing age in Mosul