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American Journal of Public Health Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-1-1-3

The Implementation of a Tele-Homecare System with Service Oriented Architecture and HL7 Message Transmission Standard
Ching-Sung Wang

American Journal of Medical and Biological Research
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The Influence of Ethanol on Pyruvate Kinases Activity in Vivo, in Vitro, in Silico
Lelevich Sergey Vladimirovich, Khrustalev Vladislav Victorovich, Barkovsky Eugene Victorovich, Shedogubova Tatyana Aleksandrovna

American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine
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Clinical and Histological Features in Wegener Granulomatosis
Li Cavoli Gioacchino, Passantino Rita, Bono Luisa, Tortorici Calogera, Ferrantelli Angelo, Giammarresi Carlo, Rotolo Ugo

American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
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The Curse of Lymphatic Filariasis: Would the Continual Use of Diethylcarbamazine Eliminate this Scourge in Papua New Guinea?
Anne Lanham, Lillian Mwanri

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Dear Label_Name,

Greetings! I hope you are well.

I am writing on behalf of an international publishing house, Science and Education Publishing, USA (http://www.sciepub.com).

Science and Education Publishing (SciEP) is a multidisciplinary open access publisher of Journals covering the fields of Science, Technology and Medicine. All SciEP publications are subject to high-quality peer review, editorial and production processes and are freely available online.

Welcome to the April, 2013 edition of SciEP newsletter, providing monthly summaries of articles on science & education related topics of interest to scientist and professionals. The mission of our journals is to provide an open access forum for publishing new findings on issues pertinent to scientific and academic field. We also invite you to submit original research papers, review articles, short reports, or case studies are considered for publication in our Multidisciplinary Journals.

American Journal of Public Health Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-1-1-3

The Implementation of a Tele-Homecare System with Service Oriented Architecture and HL7 Message Transmission Standard
Ching-Sung Wang

American Journal of Medical and Biological Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajmbr-1-1-2

The Influence of Ethanol on Pyruvate Kinases Activity in Vivo, in Vitro, in Silico
Lelevich Sergey Vladimirovich, Khrustalev Vladislav Victorovich, Barkovsky Eugene Victorovich, Shedogubova Tatyana Aleksandrovna

American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine
DOI: 10.12691/ajmsm-1-1-1

Clinical and Histological Features in Wegener Granulomatosis
Li Cavoli Gioacchino, Passantino Rita, Bono Luisa, Tortorici Calogera, Ferrantelli Angelo, Giammarresi Carlo, Rotolo Ugo

American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
DOI: 10.12691/ajidm-1-1-2

The Curse of Lymphatic Filariasis: Would the Continual Use of Diethylcarbamazine Eliminate this Scourge in Papua New Guinea?
Anne Lanham, Lillian Mwanri

We have released issues of some journals on February 2013.
American Journal of Public Health Research
American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine
American Journal of Medical and Biological Research
American Journal of Pharmacological Sciences
American Journal of Clinical Medicine Research
American Journal of Nursing Research
American Journal of Cancer Prevention
American Journal of Medicine Studies
American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
American Journal of Cardiovascular Disease Research
American Journal of Biomedical Research
American Journal of Mechanical Engineering
American Journal of Microbiological Research
Journal of Preventive Medicine
American Journal of Food and Nutrition
American Journal of Hypertension Research
American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
Journal of Cancer Research and Treatment
American Journal of Zoological Research
Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology
American Journal of Microbiological Research
Biomedical Science and Engineering

We are pleased to announce that submissions are now being accepted for peer review for all the journals across all our subject areas in SciEP.

Please submit your manuscript via our online submission system:
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Comparison of Physical Activity Level between Persons with and Persons without Diabetes in Kenya

Ferdinand Nsengimana*, Alain T. Yombouno

Lecturer - Researcher, National Institute of Public Health, Bujumbura, Burundi

Abstract: Background: The number of persons with diabetes is expected to double, from 529 million in 2021 to 1.31 billion in 2050 with low and middle-income countries being the most affected by this increase. Although physical activity is a key to preventing or delaying the consequences of diabetes findings of studies conducted elsewhere indicate that persons with diabetes are less physically active compared to persons without diabetes. Objectives: To compare the level of physical activity between persons with and persons without diabetes in Kenya. Methods: This was a cross-sectional quantitative study using secondary data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program. The data were originally collected for the 2022 Kenya demographic and health survey. After computing summary statistics for the variables being analyzed, multivariate analysis of variance was done for the independent variable (diabetes status) and three outcome variables (number of days of exercise per week, number of minutes of exercise per week, and number of hours spent seated per day). Results: The mean number of exercise days per week as well as the mean number of exercise minutes per week is lower for people who have ever, than those who have never, been told that they have diabetes while the mean number of hours spent seated on a typical day is higher for people who have ever, than those who have never, been told that they have diabetes. There was no significant effect of knowing whether one has diabetes or not in terms of number of exercise days per week, number of minutes of exercise per week, and number of hours spent seated per day, V = .000, F(3, 24594) = 1.56, p = .196. Separate univariate analysis of variances on the outcome variables also indicates that there was no significant effect of knowing whether one has diabetes or not in terms of number of exercise days per week, F(1, 24596) = 3.249, p = .071, number of minutes of exercise per week, F(1, 24596) = 0.022, p = .881, and number of hours spent seated per day, F(1, 24596) = 1.214, p = .27. Conclusion: There is no difference in the level of physical activity between persons with and persons without diabetes in Kenya. There is therefore a need to explore the determinants of, and interventions needed in order to increase, physical activity among persons with diabetes in Kenya.

Keywords: physical activity, exercise, diabetes, high blood sugar

Received November 06, 2024; Revised December 08, 2024; Accepted December 15, 2024

Citation: Ferdinand Nsengimana, Alain T. Yombouno, Comparison of Physical Activity Level between Persons with and Persons without Diabetes in Kenya. American Journal of Public Health Research, 12 (4). 121-124. January 2024. doi:10.12691/ajphr-12-4-8

1. Introduction

An increase in diabetes cases and diabetes mortality rate is being registered worldwide [1]. The number of persons with diabetes is expected to double, from 529 million in 2021 to 1.31 billion in 2050 [2]. Low and middle-income countries are the most affected by this increase [1]. Projections indicate that the number of persons with diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa will increase from 14.2 million in 2015 to 34.2 million in 2040 [3]. Current estimates indicate that 1% of both men and women aged from 15 to 49 years in Kenya are having diabetes [4]

There are several health complications associated with diabetes and World Health Organization recommends 150 to 300 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week in order to avoid or delay the consequences of diabetes [5]. Research findings indicate that physical activity can help persons with diabetes to control their blood sugar levels [6], Physical activity is also associated with reduced incidences of diabetes-related complications [7].

Results of a study conducted in the USA indicated that few persons were physically active among persons with compared to persons without diabetes [8]. Similar results were also found in Lebanon [9]. However, after being advised to exercise more, the number of persons who engaged in physical activity was higher among persons with diabetes compared to persons without diabetes who received the same advice [9]. Our literature search did not reveal any study that compared the level of physical activity between persons with and persons without diabetes in Kenya. Findings from such study would guide policy makers in general and healthcare providers in formulating and implementing policies that aim at improving the health of people with diabetes in Kenya, thence this study.

2. Methods

This was a cross-sectional quantitative study using secondary data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program. The population for this study consisted of men and women aged from 15 years to 49 years in Kenya. The data were primarily collected from all counties of Kenya for the 2022 Kenya demographic and health survey. The sampling procedure for the primary data collection is explained elsewhere [4].

The Null hypothesis for this study stated that there is no difference in the level of physical activity between persons with and persons without diabetes. In other words, in Kenya, the level of physical activity is similar between persons with and persons without diabetes. The alternative hypothesis stated that there is a difference in the level of physical activity between persons with and persons without diabetes. In other words, in Kenya, the level of physical activity differs between persons with and persons without diabetes.

Permission to access and use the data was granted on January 4, 2024. The original dataset consisted of several variables of which only four were relevant for this study. The dataset was then filtered using as inclusion criteria the availability of data for the variable: have you ever been told by a doctor or other healthcare worker that you have high blood sugar or diabetes. Furthermore, all cases with missing data for the variables: for how many days do you do moderate to vigorous intensity activity in a week, for how many minutes do you do moderate to vigorous intensity activity in a week, and how many hours do you spend seated in a typical day were deleted list-wise. This resulted in a sample of 24,598 respondents.

Data were analyzed using the Statistical Program for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. After computing summary statistics for the variables being analyzed, multivariate analysis of variance was done for the independent variable (diabetes status) and three outcome variables (number of days of exercise per week, number of minutes of exercise per week, and number of hours spent seated per day).

3. Results

There were 24,598 respondents of whom 24,386 had never been told by a doctor or other healthcare worker that they had high blood sugar or diabetes while 212 had ever been told that they had high blood sugar or diabetes.

As presented in Table 1, the mean number of exercise days per week as well as the mean number of exercise minutes per week is lower for people who have ever, than those who have never, been told that they have diabetes while the mean number of hours spent seated on a typical day is higher for people who have ever, than those who have never, been told that they have diabetes.

Table 1. Descriptive Statistics

Levene’s test of equality of variances indicated that the assumption of homogeneity of variances has been met for all the dependent variables, number of exercise days per week (p = .105), number of minutes of exercise per week (p = .895), and number of hours spent seated per day (p = .782).

Using Pillai’s trace, as presented in Table 2, there was no significant effect of knowing whether one has diabetes or not in terms of number of exercise days per week, number of minutes of exercise per week, and number of hours spent seated per day, V = .000, F(3, 24594) = 1.56, p = .196. Furthermore, separate univariate analysis of variances on the outcome variables, as presented in Table 3, also indicates that there was no significant effect of knowing whether one has diabetes or not in terms of number of exercise days per week, F(1, 24596) = 3.249, p = .071, number of minutes of exercise per week, F(1, 24596) = 0.022, p = .881, and number of hours spent seated per day, F(1, 24596) = 1.214, p = .27.

Table 2. Multivariate Tests

Given these statistical test results, we fail to reject the null hypothesis stating that there is no difference in the level of physical activity between persons with and persons without diabetes. In other words, in Kenya, the level of physical activity is similar between persons with and persons without diabetes.

Table 3. Tests of Between-Subjects Effects

4. Discussion

This study’s objective was to compare the level of physical activity between persons with and persons without diabetes. Statistical test results for this study indicate that the level of physical activity is similar between persons with and persons without diabetes in Kenya. Considering the benefits of physical activity [6,7] one would expect persons with diabetes to engage more in physical activity than persons without diabetes. However, other studies too have found the contrary [8,9]. This could be due to the fact that persons with diabetes do not know that they need to be more physically active and the reasons why. It could also be possible that there are other factors that prevent persons with diabetes in Kenya from being more physically active. Studies elsewhere indicated that among persons with diabetes, those who had higher body mass index, more comorbidities, higher perceived stress, and lower health-related quality of life were least physically active [10].

5. Conclusion and Recommendations

Diabetes is a health concern especially in countries with low and middle-income. While study findings indicate that physical activity is beneficial preventing or delaying diabetes-related complications, there is no difference in the level of physical activity between persons with and persons without diabetes in Kenya. There is therefore a need to explore the determinants of, and interventions needed in order to increase, physical activity among persons with diabetes in Kenya.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have no competing interests

References

[1]   | World Health Organization. (2023). Diabetes. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes. [Accessed January 10, 2024].

[2]  
The Lancet. (2023). Global, regional, and national burden of diabetes from 1990 to 2021, with projections of prevalence to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Retrieved from https:// www.thelancet.com/ journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)01301-6/fulltext. [Accessed January 10, 2024].

[3]   | Pastakia, S. D., Pekny, C. R., Manyara, S. M., Fischer, L. (2017). Diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa – from policy to practice to progress: targeting the existing gaps for future care for diabetes. Retrieved from https:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pmc/articles/PMC5489055/. [Accessed January 10, 2024].
[4]   | Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. (2023). Kenya demographic and health survey 2022. Retrieved from https://dhsprogram.com/ pubs/pdf/PR143/PR143.pdf. [Accessed January 10, 2024].
[5]   | World Health Organization. (2020). WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour: at a glance. Retrieved from https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/337001/9789240014886-eng.pdf. [Accessed January 10, 2024].
[6]   | Asfaw, M. S., Dagne, W. K. (2022). Physical activity can improve diabetes patients' glucose control; A systematic review and meta-analysis. Retrieved from https://www.cell.com/heliyon/pdf/S2405-8440(22)03555-1.pdf. [Accessed January 10, 2024].

[7]  
Rietz, M., Lehr, A., Mino, E., Lang, A., Szczerba, E., Schiemann, T., Herder, C. et al. (2022). Physical Activity and Risk of Major Diabetes-Related Complications in Individuals With Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Retrieved from https:// diabetesjournals.org/ care/article/ 45/12/3101/147970/Physical-Activity-and-Risk-of-Major-Diabetes. [Accessed January 10, 2024].

[8]  
Morrato, E. H., Hill, J. O., Wyatt, H. R., Ghushchyan, V., Sullivan, P. W. (2007). Physical Activity in U.S. Adults With Diabetes and At Risk for Developing Diabetes, 2003. Retrieved from https:// diabetesjournals.org/care/article/30/2/203/28386/Physical-Activity-in-U-S-Adults-With-Diabetes-and. [Accessed January 10, 2024].

[9]  
Sibai, A. M., Costanian, C., Tohme, R., Assaad, S., Hwalla, N. (2013). Physical activity in adults with and without diabetes: from the ‘high-risk’ approach to the ‘population-based’ approach of prevention. Retrieved from https:// bmcpublichealth. biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-13-1002. [Accessed January 10, 2024].

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Mortensen, S. R., Kristensen, P. L., Grøntved, A., Ried-Larsen, M., Lau, C., Skou, S. T. (2022). Determinants of physical activity among 6856 individuals with diabetes: a nationwide cross-sectional study. Retrieved from https:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9389096/. [Accessed January 10, 2024].