Sedentary Behaviour among Urban Civil Servants in Eastern Part of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Active lifestyle is a determining factor for functional and clinical health that protects and maintains both physical and mental health of an individual, whereas sedentary lifestyle is a contrary vital cause for higher premature mortality, heart disease, diabetics, and poorer quality of life. This study is aimed at determining the amount of time spent on sedentary activity and identifying sedentary behaviours frequently practiced by civil servants in Southern Ethiopia in 2015. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study which employed both qualitative and quantitative approach. A stratified cluster sampling method was used to select 375 office workers (222 men and 153 women) from Hawassa, Wolayta Soddo, and Dilla ranging from 18-65 years old. Data were collected using harmonized self-reporting LASSA (Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam) questionnaires and prevalence estimates of mean sedentary time in each 12 activities per day were determined. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as Independent t-test, Uni-variate ANOVA, and Person's correlation were used to analyze association and predictability of IV on DV variables. RESULT: The total mean time spent sitting per day was 13.39 h which was 81.5% of weak time. Collectively, screen time was dominant (6.08). About 70.7%, 23.7%, 4.8%, and 0.8% of respondents were levelled very high, high, moderate, and less sedentary, respectively. In general, women accounted higher sedentary level (96.1%) than men (93.3%) in sedentary activity. There is a weak positive correlation between age and time spent in an administrative task. Income and mealtime were statistically significant (r < 0.2, n = 375, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The high level of self-reported sedentary time record suggests the need for public health policies targeted at increasing physical activity and decreasing sitting time through systemic intervention in and out of work.