Assessing Level of Physical Activity Among University Students in Rwanda and the Associated Factors
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63750/z36d4q32Keywords:
Lifestyle medicine, physical activity, university students, RwandaAbstract
Background: Physical activity (PA) is vital for physical and mental health, yet its prevalence among university students in low- and middle-income countries, including Rwanda, remains underexplored. This study assessed PA levels and associated socio-demographic and institutional factors among university students in Rwanda.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form (IPAQ-SF) was distributed online to students enrolled in Rwandan universities. Descriptive statistics summarized PA levels, and multivariate logistic regression identified associated factors.
Results: Among 418 participants, 58.1% met criteria for health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA), 16.5% had minimal activity, and 25.4% were inactive. Male students were significantly more likely to engage in HEPA than females (OR = 2.57, p = 0.001), and students from public universities had higher odds of meeting HEPA thresholds than those in private institutions (OR = 2.30, p = 0.003). Key motivators included stress relief, improved fitness, and enjoyment, while barriers included lack of time, limited access to facilities, low motivation, and insufficient awareness. Open-ended responses emphasized the need for institutional support, peer encouragement, and accessible fitness spaces, especially for female students.
Conclusion: Although most students engage in PA, a substantial proportion remains inactive. Gender and university type significantly influence PA levels. To promote equitable engagement, universities should implement gender-sensitive programs, invest in infrastructure, and raise awareness of PA benefits. Future research should explore cultural and psychosocial drivers to inform targeted interventions.
Downloads
References
Alsahli, S. M. (2015). Barriers to physical activity among Kuwaiti university students [Doctoral dissertation, Middle Tennessee State University]. JEWLScholar@MTSU. https://jewlscholar.mtsu.edu/handle/mtsu/4864
Baxter, A. (2012). Higher education mission and vision in Rwanda: A comparative and critical discourse analysis. Reconsidering Development, 2(2), Article 2. https://pubs.lib.umn.edu/index.php/reconsidering/article/view/572
Berra, K., Rippe, J., & Manson, J. E. (2015). Making physical activity counseling a priority in clinical practice: The time for action is now. JAMA, 314(24), 2617–2618. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2015.16244
Blake, H., Stanulewicz, N., & McGill, F. (2017). Predictors of physical activity and barriers to exercise in nursing and medical students. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 73(4), 917–929. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13181
Bronikowski, M., Epping, R., Honsová, Š., Knisel, E., Maciaszek, J., Ołpińska-Lischka, M., & Pospieszna, B. (2020). Physical activity rates of male and female students from selected European physical education universities. Trends in Sport Sciences, 27(2), 63–69. https://doi.org/10.23829/TSS.2020.27.2-3
Burford, K., Zhang, Y., & Bartholomew, J. (2021). Gender differences in enjoyment for types of physical activity in children [Conference abstract]. The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.742
Carballo-Fazanes, A., Rico-Díaz, J., Barcala-Furelos, R., Rey, E., Rodríguez-Fernández, J. E., Varela-Casal, C., & Abelairas-Gómez, C. (2020). Physical activity habits and determinants, sedentary behaviour and lifestyle in university students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(9), Article 3272. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17093272
Cheng, L. A., Mendonça, G., & Farias Júnior, J. C. de. (2014). Physical activity in adolescents: Analysis of the social influence of parents and friends. Jornal de Pediatria, 90(1), 35–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jped.2013.05.006
Coughenour, C., Gakh, M., Pharr, J. R., Bungum, T., & Jalene, S. (2021). Changes in depression and physical activity among college students on a diverse campus after a COVID-19 stay-at-home order. Journal of Community Health, 46(4), 758–766. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-020-00918-5
Craig, C. L., Marshall, A. L., Sjöström, M., Bauman, A. E., Booth, M. L., Ainsworth, B. E., Pratt, M., Ekelund, U., Yngve, A., Sallis, J. F., & Oja, P. (2003). International Physical Activity Questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 35(8), 1381–1395. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.0000078924.61453.FB
Deliens, T., Deforche, B., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., & Clarys, P. (2015). Determinants of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in university students: A qualitative study using focus group discussions. BMC Public Health, 15, Article 201. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1553-4
Dishman, R. K., Motl, R. W., Saunders, R., Felton, G., Ward, D. S., Dowda, M., & Pate, R. R. (2005). Enjoyment mediates effects of a school-based physical-activity intervention. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 37(3), 478–487. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000155391.62733.a7
Duah, H. O., Agbadi, P., Amankwa, C. E., Adomako, I., & Owusu, B. (2020). Trends in the proportionate mortalities attributed to noncommunicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2000 to 2016. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 35(5), 1232–1239. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpm.2981
Gelius, P., Messing, S., Goodwin, L., Schow, D., & Abu-Omar, K. (2020). What are effective policies for promoting physical activity? A systematic review of reviews. Preventive Medicine Reports, 18, Article 101095. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101095
Haase, A., Steptoe, A., Sallis, J. F., & Wardle, J. (2004). Leisure-time physical activity in university students from 23 countries: Associations with health beliefs, risk awareness, and national economic development. Preventive Medicine, 39(1), 182–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2004.01.028
Hales, C. M., Carroll, M. D., Fryar, C. D., & Ogden, C. L. (2017). Prevalence of obesity among adults and youth: United States, 2015–2016 (NCHS Data Brief No. 288). National Center for Health Statistics.
Iwuala, S. O., Sekoni, A. O., Olamoyegun, M. A., Akanbi, M. A., Sabir, A. A., & Ayankogbe, O. O. (2015). Self-reported physical activity among health care professionals in South-West Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, 18(6), 790–795.
Kohl, H. W., Craig, C. L., Lambert, E. V., Inoue, S., Alkandari, J. R., Leetongin, G., & Kahlmeier, S. (2012). The pandemic of physical inactivity: Global action for public health. The Lancet, 380(9838), 294–305. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60898-8
Kokkinos, P. (2012). Physical activity, health benefits, and mortality risk. ISRN Cardiology, 2012, Article 718789. https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/718789
Kunene, S. H., & Taukobong, N. P. (2015). Level of physical activity of health professionals in a district hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. South African Journal of Physiotherapy, 71(1), Article 234. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajp.v71i1.234
Leslie, E., Sparling, P. B., & Owen, N. (2001). University campus settings and the promotion of physical activity in young adults: Lessons from research in Australia and the USA. Health Education, 101(3), 116–125. https://doi.org/10.1108/09654280110387880
Liu, Y., Feng, Q., & Guo, K. (2023). Physical activity and depression of Chinese college students: Chain mediating role of rumination and anxiety. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1190836. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1190836
Lobelo, F., & de Quevedo, I. G. (2016). The evidence in support of physicians and health care providers as physical activity role models. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 10(1), 36–52. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827613520120
National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda. (2018). 2018 education statistics report. https://www.statistics.gov.rw/publication/2018-education-statistics-report
National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda. (2023). Main indicators: 5th Rwanda Population and Housing Census (PHC). https://www.statistics.gov.rw/publication/main_indicators_2022
Obi, O. C., Nnonyelu, A. C., Onobrakpeya, A., & Ogundele, O. J. (2023). Benefits and barriers to physical activity among African women: A systematic review. Sports Medicine and Health Science, 5(1), 59–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smhs.2022.12.001
Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Kit, B. K., & Flegal, K. M. (2013). Prevalence of obesity among adults: United States, 2011–2012 (NCHS Data Brief No. 131). National Center for Health Statistics.
Ogidan, R. J., Onifade, O. A., & Ologele, I. (2013). Social cultural factors influencing women’s participation in sports as perceived by female students of the University of Ilorin. Makerere Journal of Higher Education. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/majohe/article/view/90213
Parra-Rizo, M. A., Vásquez-Gómez, J., Álvarez, C., Diaz-Martínez, X., Troncoso, C., Leiva-Ordoñez, A. M., Zapata-Lamana, R., & Cigarroa, I. (2022). Predictors of the level of physical activity in physically active older people. Behavioral Sciences, 12(9), Article 331. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12090331
Pauline, J. (2013). Physical activity behaviors, motivation, and self-efficacy among college students. College Student Journal, 47(1), 64–74.
Pengpid, S., Peltzer, K., Kassean, H. K., Tsala Tsala, J. P., Sychareun, V., & Müller-Riemenschneider, F. (2015). Physical inactivity and associated factors among university students in 23 low-, middle- and high-income countries. International Journal of Public Health, 60(5), 539–549. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-015-0680-0
Reading, J. M., & LaRose, J. G. (2022). Exercise preferences among emerging adults: Do men and women want different things? Journal of American College Health, 70(5). https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1803878
Roshanaei-Moghaddam, B., Katon, W. J., & Russo, J. (2009). The longitudinal effects of depression on physical activity. General Hospital Psychiatry, 31(4), 306–315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2009.04.002
Saranya, S., Rao, C., Kumar, S., Kamath, V., & Kamath, A. (2016). Dietary habits and physical activity among medical students of a teaching hospital in South India: A descriptive analysis. Tropical Journal of Medical Research, 19(2), 172–177. https://doi.org/10.4103/1119-0388.185450
Stanford, F. C., Durkin, M. W., Blair, S. N., Powell, C. K., Poston, M. B., & Stallworth, J. R. (2012). Determining levels of physical activity in attending physicians, resident and fellow physicians and medical students in the USA. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 46(5), 360–364. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2011-090299
Trost, S. G., Owen, N., Bauman, A. E., Sallis, J. F., & Brown, W. (2002). Correlates of adults’ participation in physical activity: Review and update. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 34(12), 1996–2001. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200212000-00020
Tumusiime, D. K. (2004). Perceived benefits of, barriers and helpful cues to physical activity among tertiary institution students in Rwanda [Master’s thesis, University of the Western Cape]. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/xmlui/handle/11394/1347
Tusiime, O., & Mse, E. (2022). Assessment of the challenges and ways of overcoming them by women who participate in sports during Federation of Eastern Africa University Sports (FEAUS) women games in Uganda. European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.46827/ejpe.v9i1.4481
Wattanapisit, A., Fungthongcharoen, K., Saengow, U., & Vijitpongjinda, S. (2016). Physical activity among medical students in Southern Thailand: A mixed methods study. BMJ Open, 6(9), Article e013479. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013479
World Health Organization. (2018a). Noncommunicable diseases country profiles 2018. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241514620
World Health Organization. (2018b). Global action plan on physical activity 2018–2030: More active people for a healthier world. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241514187
World Health Organization. (2022). Physical activity [Fact sheet]. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Jean Bertrand A. Hakizimana, Aime P. Hakizimana, Joselyne Nzisabira, Sam Kamali, Rex Wong (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright & Licensing Policy:
- Open Access Policy: This journal follows a fully Open Access model, which means all published research articles are freely available to readers without any subscription or access fees. Anyone can read, download, copy, distribute, print, and cite the published work without restrictions, as long as they comply with the journal’s licensing terms.
- Copyright & License:
- All articles published in this journal are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
- This license allows unrestricted reuse and distribution, provided that proper credit is given to the original author and source.
- Authors retain full copyright ownership of their work while granting the journal the right to publish it for the first time under this license.
- Author Responsibilities:
- Authors must agree to the journal’s licensing terms before publication.
- Submitted manuscripts must be original and not published or under consideration elsewhere during the review process.
- Any reuse of published content by third parties must comply with the CC BY 4.0 license, ensuring no additional restrictions are imposed on reuse.
- Publication Fees (free to publish):
- This journal (free to publish) does not charge any fees for access to published research, supporting the principle of free and open scientific knowledge for all.
