População idosa de Uberaba e a prática de exercícios físicos: fatores de não aderência

Abstract

Population aging is a global, heterogeneous phenomenon, being one of the greatest challenges of contemporary society. Brazilian elderly population is increasing significantly in recent decades, a result of the fall of the fertility and mortality rates that occurred after the Decade of 1960. Physical exercise is an important factor of health protection and the elements that limit its practice need to be known and overcome. In order to identify the reasons for non-adherence to the practice of physical exercises, I interviewed 322 non-practitioner elderlies, registered in three family health Units of Uberaba-MG, interpreting the responses by Content Analysis, using the technique of elaboration and signified units analysis, proposed by Moreira, Simões and Porto (2005). The results showed that from the initial sample of 428 subjects, 75.2% (322) do not engage in physical exercises and indicated their non adherence factors, of which 201 do not reside near public places where these services are being offered to the population. 96.5% of non practitioners (311) think practice is important for maintenance of health, what is paradoxical because they do not usually incorporate it because of the benefits it brings to health. Questioned about why they consider important the practice, from the 322 non-practitioners, 71 abstained from the answer and 11 reported it was not important. The answers from the other 251 elderlies were organized into nine Signified Units, with the following frequencies: Protection to health (117); Functional Capability (115); Did not answer (71); Disposition (34); It is good, it is beneficial (29); Esthetic issues (19); Third party judgment (18); Think it is not important (11) and Socialization (6). Regarding the non-adherence to the practice of physical exercises, two subjects abstained from the answer and the other 320 expressed 641 answers, organized into eight Signified Units, with the following frequencies: health problems (264); Lack of time (119); Work (101); Laziness (68); Difficulties of access (55); Everyday difficulties (15); Lack of Company (9) and I don't want to (8).