Cognitive Behaviour of Health Workers on Physical Activity and Sedentary Lifestyle during COVID-19 Pandemic in Abraka Community, Ethiope East Local Government Area, Nigeria

Abstract

This research work is based on assessing the cognitive behavior of health workers towards physical activity and sedentary lifestyle during COVID-19 pandemic in Abraka Community. To guide the study, four research questions and hypotheses were generated and tested. Reviews of related literatures were also done. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a descriptive survey method. Data was collected through self-structured questionnaires which consisted of two sections. Section (A) dealt with demographic data of respondents while section (B) dealt with information relating to the research questions and was administered personally to the respondents. The researcher used the proportionate sampling technique to select a sample size of One Hundred and fifty-two (152) respondents out of which One Hundred (100) were retrieved. Collected data was analyzed using frequency distribution tables, percentages, and chi-square statistics at alpha 0.05% level of significance to test the hypotheses. The result obtained show that there was a significant difference between the existence of sedentary life style, the beneficial effect of inadequate exercise, and the health implications of inadequate exercise and sedentary life style among health workers. Similarly, there was a significant difference between the suggested measures to improve exercise among health workers in Abraka community. Cognitive behaviour of health workers with sedentary life style during COVID-19 pandemic in Abraka community was moderately adopted. Findings from the study equally established a moderate level of awareness on adequate physical activity has contributory benefits over a sedentary lifestyle with favourable health outcomes, especially during COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Hence, the need to create massive awareness on the importance of adopting physical activities for healthy living while discouraging the sedentary lifestyle among health workers in the study area.