Effect of Community-Based Intervention on the Level of Physical Activity among Women in a Suburban Region in Qom City, (Iran)

Physical inactivity is one of the four major causes of death worldwide. Various studies have shown that physical activity in women, especially in suburban areas, is more than average, and community-based interventions can improve this situation. The objective of this study was to design, implement, and evaluate a community-based intervention to increase physical activity in adult women in a suburban area Qom city.
  A quasi-experimental study was conducted on adult women in two suburban areas Qom city. Sampling was performed using cluster sampling and 297 subjects were selected. The physical activity of women was assessed by the community-based health promotion program using an ecological framework.
  In this study, more than 50% of women had insufficient physical activity. Based on independent t-test results, there was a significant difference between the mean score of total physical activity between the two groups before and after the intervention; so that the mean of this difference in the intervention group was obtained 214.18±757.82 MET-minutes/week and in the control group -36.85±279.17 MET-minutes/week. This difference was significant for moderate physical activity and walking and was not significant for severe physical activity.
  Considering that in this study, community-based and multi-level intervention was performed, thus, it seems that the effect of a set of interventional factors, has been able to increase the level of physical activity in the intervention women.