The Health Academy Program in the quality of life of women in social vulnerability
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v80.117921Keywords:
Social determinants of health, health promotion, social vulnerability, public policies, social inequalityAbstract
Introduction: Quality of life is closely linked to factors such as social determinants of health and physical activity. The Health Academy Program aims to promote physical activity as a strategy to improve the population's quality of life.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life of physically active women participating in the Health Academy Program compared to insufficiently active women, who do not participate in the program, in an area of high social vulnerability in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 women aged 40 to 59 years, residing in this region. The World Health Organization's Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-bref) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were used to assess quality of life and measure physical activity levels, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test.
Results: Results indicate that physically active women had significantly higher scores in the physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains of quality of life compared to insufficiently active women (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: It is concluded that regular physical activity, within the context of the Health Academy Program, is associated with improved quality of life, particularly in socially vulnerable populations.
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