Socioeconomics inequities associated with different domains of physical activity: results of the National Health Survey 2019, Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To examine the socioeconomic indicators associated with engagement in physical activity (PA) in the leisure-time, transportation, domestic and occupational domains, in Brazilian adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with secondary data from the National Health Survey (PNS), conducted in 2019. The factors associated with engagement in PA were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: The study involved 88,500 Brazilian adults with mean age of 45 ± 17.5 years old. Longer working hours [odds ratio (OR) = 0.74; 95%CI 0.66;0.82; > 40h vs. ≥ 20h] and female sex (OR = 0.67; 95%CI 0.63;0.71) were associated with lower chances of engaging in leisure-time PA. Higher income (OR = 3.20; 95%CI 2.79;3.67; > 5 vs. ≥ minimum wage) and education level (OR = 3.01; 95%CI 2.74;3.32 - complete higher education vs. incomplete elementary school) were positively associated with leisure-time PA. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic correlates were strongly related to engagement in PA in Brazilian adults, suggesting a pattern of inequity marked by the need for survival, which is socially reproduced.