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Barriers and Facilitators Associated with Physical Activity in the Middle East and North Africa Region: A Systematic Overview.

ABSTRACT: Increasing physical inactivity levels in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is a public health concern. We aimed to synthesize barriers and facilitators to physical activity and make appropriate recommendations to address physical inactivity. We conducted an overview of systematic reviews on physical activity barriers and facilitators in 20 MENA countries by systematically searching MEDLINE/PubMed and Google Scholar for systematic reviews published between 2008 and 2020. Our overview included four systematic reviews and 119 primary studies with data from 17 MENA countries. Lack of suitable sports facilities, time, social support and motivation, gender and cultural norms, harsh weather, and hot climate were the most commonly reported barriers to physical activity. Socio-demographic factors negatively associated with physical activity participation include advanced age, being female, less educated, and being married. Motivation to gain health benefits, losing/maintaining weight, being male, dietary habits, recreation, and increased Body Mass Index are positively associated with increased levels of physical activity. Interventions promoting physical activity in MENA should target schoolchildren, women and girls, working parents, and the elderly. Country-specific sociocultural and environmental factors influencing physical activity should be considered in the design of interventions. Current and future policies and national interventions must be consistently evaluated for effectiveness and desired outcomes.

SUBMITTER: Chaabane S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7914747 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Barriers and Facilitators Associated with Physical Activity in the Middle East and North Africa Region: A Systematic Overview.

Chaabane Sonia S Chaabna Karima K Doraiswamy Sathyanarayanan S Mamtani Ravinder R Cheema Sohaila S

International journal of environmental research and public health 20210209 4

Increasing physical inactivity levels in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is a public health concern. We aimed to synthesize barriers and facilitators to physical activity and make appropriate recommendations to address physical inactivity. We conducted an overview of systematic reviews on physical activity barriers and facilitators in 20 MENA countries by systematically searching MEDLINE/PubMed and Google Scholar for systematic reviews published between 2008 and 2020. Our overview ...[more]

PMID: 33572229

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Project description:Aims: Perinatal mental illness (PMI) is associated with a high risk of maternal and infant morbidity. Recently, several systematic reviews and primary studies have explored the prevalence and risk factors of PMI in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. To our knowledge, there has been no critical analysis of the existing systematic reviews (SRs) on this topic in the MENA region. Our systematic overview primarily aimed to synthesize evidence from the published SRs on PMI in the MENA countries focusing on a) the prevalence of PMI and b) the risk factors associated with PMI. Methods: We conducted a systematic overview of the epidemiology of PMI in the Middle East and North Africa region by searching the PubMed, Embase, and PsycInfo databases for relevant publications between January 2008 and July 2019. In addition to searching the reference lists of the identified SRs for other relevant SRs and additional primary studies of relevance (those which primarily discussed the prevalence of PMI and/or risk and protective factors), between August and October 2019, we also searched Google Scholar for relevant studies. Results: After applying our inclusion and exclusion criteria, 15 systematic reviews (SRs) and 79 primary studies were included in our overview. Studies utilizing validated diagnostic tools report a PMI prevalence range from 5.6% in Morocco to 28% in Pakistan. On the other hand, studies utilizing screening tools to detect PMI report a prevalence range of 9.2% in Sudan to 85.6% in the United Arab Emirates. Wide variations were observed in studies reporting PMI risk factors. We regrouped the risk factors applying an evidence-based categorization scheme. Our study indicates that risk factors in the relational, psychological, and sociodemographic categories are the most studied in the region. Conversely, lifestyle-related risk factors were less studied. Conclusions: Our systematic overview identifies perinatal mental illness as an important public health issue in the region. Standardizing approaches for estimating, preventing, screening, and treating perinatal mental illness would be a step in the right direction for the region.

Project description:BackgroundIn nursing students, high stress levels can lead to burnout, anxiety, and depression. Our objective is to characterize the epidemiology of perceived stress, stressors, and coping strategies among nursing students in the Middle East and North Africa region.MethodsWe conducted an overview of systematic reviews. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, and grey literature sources between January 2008 and June 2020 with no language restrictions. We included any systematic review reporting measurable stress-related outcomes including stress prevalence, stressors, and stress coping strategies in nursing students residing in any of the 20 Middle East and North Africa countries. We also included additional primary studies identified through a hand search of the reference lists of relevant primary studies and systematic reviews.ResultsSeven systematic reviews and 42 primary studies with data from Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan were identified. Most studies included nursing students undergoing clinical training. The prevalence range of low, moderate, and high perceived stress among nursing students was 0.8-65%, 5.9-84.5%, and 6.7-99.2%, respectively. Differences related to gender, training period, or the type of tool used to measure stress remain unclear given the wide variability in the reported prevalence measures across all stress levels. Common clinical training stressors were assignments, workload, and patient care. Academic training-related stressors included lack of break/leisure time, low grades, exams, and course load. Nursing students utilized problem focused (dealing with the problem), emotion focused (regulating the emotion), and dysfunctional (venting the emotions) stress coping mechanisms to alleviate their stress.ConclusionsAvailable data does not allow the exploration of links between stress levels, stressors, and coping strategies. Limited country-specific prevalence data prevents comparability between countries. Reducing the number or intensity of stressors through curriculum revision and improving students' coping response could contribute to the reduction of stress levels among students. Mentorship, counseling, and an environment conducive to clinical training are essential to minimize perceived stress, enhance learning, and productivity, and prevent burnout among nursing students.

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Project description:IntroductionTension-type headache (TTH) is the most prevalent neurological disorder. As there is a gap in the literature regarding the disease burden attributable to TTH in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the aim of the present study was to report the epidemiological indicators of TTH in MENA, from 1990 to 2019, by sex, age and socio-demographic index (SDI).MethodsPublicly available data on the point prevalence, annual incidence and years lived with disability (YLDs) were retrieved from the global burden of disease (GBD) 2019 study for the 21 countries and territories in MENA, between 1990 and 2019. The results were presented with numbers and age-standardised rates per 100000 population, along with their corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs).ResultsIn 2019, the age-standardised point prevalence and annual incidence rates for TTH in the MENA region were 24504.5 and 8680.1 per 100000, respectively, which represents a 2.0% and a 0.9% increase over 1990-2019, respectively. The age-standardised YLD rate of TTH in this region in 2019 was estimated to be 68.1 per 100000 population, which has increased 1.0% since 1990. Iran [29640.4] had the highest age-standardised point prevalence rate for TTH, while Turkey [21726.3] had the lowest. In 2019, the regional point prevalence of TTH was highest in the 35-39 and 70-74 age groups, for males and females, respectively. Furthermore, the number of prevalent cases was estimated to be highest in those aged 35-39 and 25-29 years, in both males and females, respectively. Moreover, the burden of TTH was not observed to have a clear association with SDI.ConclusionsWhile the prevalence of TTH in the MENA region increased from 1990 to 2019, the incidence rate did not change. In addition, the burden of TTH in MENA was higher than at the global level for both sexes and all age groups. Therefore, prevention of TTH would help alleviate the attributable burden imposed on the hundreds of millions of people suffering from TTH around the region.

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Barriers and Facilitators Associated with Physical Activity in the Middle East and North Africa Region: A Systematic Overview.

Publications

Barriers and Facilitators Associated with Physical Activity in the Middle East and North Africa Region: A Systematic Overview.

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