Abstract

Physically inactive people are perceived to be living shorter lives because of the development of lifestyle diseases, Jamaica is one of many countries currently being affected. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the need for a national physical activity policy for Jamaica. An explanatory sequential design was employed to collect data using a two-step mixed-method process. The quantitative phase surveyed 327 participants while the qualitative phase interviewed four professionals in the field. Documentary analysis was also employed to provide a triangulation of data. The research results indicated that based on the level of inactivity in Jamaica and the WHO’s mandates on physical activity. The country has met the basic requirements for the implementation of a national physical activity policy. The policy will further strengthen current initiatives by the Ministry of Health and Wellness in the promotion, education, and implementation of physical activity across the island.

1. Introduction

Physically inactive people are living shorter lives ¹. Physical activity dates back to the time of prehistoric man where this was the main way of survival. Since then, physical activity has gone through many transformations over many decades. Philosophies and our way of thinking have greatly impacted the type and quality of physical activity.

As modern-day technologies and machines came about, the way of survival became a lot easier; people drifted from the mere use of human physical strength for food, shelter, clothing, and to fight wars ². Physical activity became an enjoyable form of activity that was used to celebrate Gods and used in festivals for mere competitive enjoyment in the latter part of the ancient societies. As philosophies and our thinking evolved; structures, rules, categories, and standards were set in place to use physical activity as a means of competition against nations in what was known as the Ancient Olympic Games ². These activities have been transformed into sporting events ². As a result, these events were transformed into a competitive multi-billion-dollar sporting industry and the growing technological advancements have made life on earth a lot easier. People don't need to exert a lot of energy to get things done. The lack of physical activity is causing a repeat of the 1900 AD when diseases broke out because of sedentary lifestyle practices ².

When we look at the Jamaican society and how it has evolved over the last two decades in relation to technologies, machines, and philosophies ³; we see that life in Jamaica is getting easier. People living in Jamaica are not required as much to use physical activity as a means of survival, clothing, shelter, and food ³. Jamaica is a third world country that has grown significantly in providing adequate transportation (citizens don't necessarily need to walk long distances), fast food chains have increased across the island (people don't need to cook as often) and more machines are now available in Jamaica to make work a lot easier for persons that do manual labor. Jamaicans have easier access to drinking water in all parishes (improvements ongoing) and there are a lot more jobs that require less manual labor (sitting for longer hours). All these advancements in technology and machines have brought on a sedentary lifestyle in Jamaica and across the world, this has caused an increase in chronic lifestyle diseases ³. The increased chronic lifestyle diseases in Jamaica have caused deaths and additional expenses on the health sector.

In fact, one-fourth of the world's population has metabolic syndrome and is at elevated risk of cardiovascular incidents. In developing countries, the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) contributes to 80% of worldwide NCD deaths ⁴. Overweight/obesity, physical inactivity, sedentary activities (e.g. TV viewing), and poor sleep are among the key risk factors in adults for the development of NCDs ⁵. Downing et al. ⁵ research titled "Family history of non-communicable diseases and associations with weight and movement behaviors in Australian school-aged children: A prospective study", pointed to the fact that these risk factors monitor from childhood to adulthood, with emerging data indicating that cardiovascular risk factors are correlated with physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep (collectively referred to as 'motion behaviors') even in children.

As such, policymakers globally have developed evidence-based recommendations designed to optimize the health and growth for these habits in children and adults. Downing et al. ⁵ further added that Australia has been one of the first countries to create recommendations for 24-hour travel, incorporating physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. These recommendations indicated that children 5-17 years of age should: accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day; restrict sedentary leisure screen time to no more than 2 hours per day; and have 9-11 hours of sleep (5-13 years of age) and 8-10 hours of sleep (14-17 years of age) per night ⁵. Furthermore, the goal of achieving sustainable development objectives is now being followed by the world ⁶. Goal 3.4 is aimed at reducing premature mortality from NCDs by one third by 2030 (WHO 2015 as cited in ⁶). Therefore, we need to place sufficient focus on NCDs, like the rest of the world and raise consciousness about the colossal harm they do to human health because adequate awareness of the problem will play a key role in combating the epidemic risk ⁶.

As a result, this research was done as "An Investigation into the Development of a National Physical Activity Policy for Jamaica: Physically Fit Jamaica". This study is of utmost importance to the growth and development of Jamaica moving from a third world status to a first world country. If Jamaica is to continue growing and developing, we need a physically active country that will ensure our workforce can produce twice as much, people living longer (especially people with a lot to offer the country), and the country being able to significantly cut its health bill for chronic lifestyle diseases. The study investigated the need for structures, standards, and guidelines to govern physical activity in the country. The research critically examined some of the factors that surround a national physical activity policy, to see if implemented, will Jamaica improve its chronic lifestyle disease levels.

A national physical activity policy for Jamaica would play such an important role in providing adequate physical activity guidelines for persons with special needs and the elderly, two of the most vulnerable groups in our society. There have been many studies done on special needs and the elderly and the effect of proper physical activities on their bodies. Research has shown that through structured physical activity the quality of life for these two groups increases significantly both physically and psychologically ¹. The elderly is more at risk for developing chronic lifestyle diseases especially when they retire from active work. Physical activity helps them to continue using muscle function and ultimately providing a longer lifespan ¹. Research has also pointed to the fact that physically active persons sleep better, feel better, and function better; physically active persons will perform daily tasks more easily; reduces the risk of obesity, injures, and improves physical function among individuals of all ages without undue fatigue ¹.

2. Methods

This research was done as a mixed-method approach, which used an explanatory sequential design with most emphasis focused on the qualitative phase. However, a quantitative phase was employed to collect, analyze, and present local data results. The explanatory sequential design is a system of two-step mixed methods. The aim of this design is to help clarify or build upon initial quantitative findings through qualitative data. This design, for example, is well suited for a study in which a researcher needs qualitative data to clarify significant (or non-important) findings ⁷. The quantitative phase of the research took the form of a survey while the qualitative phase used the local data obtained to form semi-structured interview questions. These questions were used to interview key stakeholders in the physical activity industry. The researcher also used documentary analysis to gather local and international data on physical activity policy, to analyze and report on Jamaica's need to implement a policy.

The explanatory sequential design with the use of surveys, interviews, and documentary analysis was selected because the situation required a design that could fully explain the need for the development and implementation of such an initiative. Aimed at correcting a behavior or to develop one using varied methodologies for authenticity. This design was also chosen to meet the objectives of the research while highlighting existing knowledge, views, development, and transformation that can take place with a national physical activity policy for Jamaica. The research data was collected using online questionnaires (Google Forms), doing zoom interviews, and conducting documentary analysis.

This study was carried out throughout the island of Jamaica's three counties. However, the quantitative phase target population for this study consists of 15, 000 Jamaicans suffering from chronic lifestyle diseases. This revelation was made by American Public Health Association in a 2012 article titled "supporting the National Physical Activity Plan". The Minister of Health and wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton also revealed the shocking figures as he explained the need for the Jamaica Moves program at its official launch in 2017 as noted by the Jamaica Information Service. The online sample calculator Survey Monkey has indicated that with a target population of 15, 000 the main study sample should consist of 375 participants.

The age range for participants was 18 to 65 years old; the participants were also selected from various class, gender, categories, professions, and sections of the island once they met the specific requirements. The research used a purposive sampling technique to select participants. The criteria used to select participants included people that were overweight, obese, participating in physical activity, or suffering from any other forms of chronic lifestyle diseases. The participants were selected from all 14 parishes in Jamaica. The researcher wanted to cover a wide range of people to ensure that the sample size can accurately represent the conditions that exists within Jamaica. Also, the researcher wanted to take all stakeholders' views and opinions into account from adults, the elderly, children, and persons with disabilities. The qualitative phase of the research focused on the views of professionals in the field and the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Representatives from three institutions including the Ministry of Health and Wellness, University of Technology, Jamaica, The Mico University College, and one physical activity specialist were interviewed in the qualitative phase. The participants were selected based on their unique knowledge of physical activity and the role their institutions play in the promotion and training of persons in the field. They were also chosen for the unique role they can play in the implementation of a national policy. The data collection process was guided primarily by semi-structured interview questions, to gather rich in-depth knowledge in the area.

In the quantitative phase of the research, the data was analyzed using SPSS to generate a summary of the results. The data was first taken from Google Forms and inserted into Microsoft excel where the Likert responses were changed to represent numeric values in preparation for the SPSS database. After the values were changed, the document was then opened in SPSS where descriptive statistics were used to produce summaries to represent the findings of the survey. The qualitative phase was an iterative process to evaluate the results, starting after the first interview and continuing until the research paper was completed. After each interview, memoing or reflective writing was completed by the researcher to document the ideas, understanding, and reactions about the interviews. Maxwell ⁸ linked the lack of memoing to a form of Alzheimer's disease researcher. He warned researchers that without mentioning certain elements, it may not be possible to remember crucial aspects of the interview. The qualitative phase used a thematic approach to analyze the data. This approach included transcribing the interviews, reading and re-reading the transcriptions, finding similarities in the data, and identifying emerging themes that represented the results of this phase. The overall results of the research were triangulated, analyzed, and compared to international journal articles.

Throughout the study the researcher ensured that ethics remained a top priority. It was of vital importance in ensuring the quality and reliability of the analysis according to the methodology outlined in this chapter. Furthermore, the informed consent form was read by each participant prior to the interview and the online distribution of the questionnaires sought permission from participants and explained the nature of the research. The participants were asked to present a signed consent form before they were able to take part in the study.

3. Results

An accumulative 82.5% of all the respondents believed that Jamaica needs a national physical activity policy. One of the strongest responses received indicated that the national physical activity policy will help to promote healthy lifestyle practices in Jamaica, 93% of the respondents agreed.

Role of the government: The participants (35.9%) indicated that the government's role is to provide policies that encourage a healthy lifestyle. While 25.5% of the respondents believed that the government’s role in preventing sedentary lifestyle in Jamaica is to promote physical activity at an early age. Another 23.9% thinks that the government’s role in controlling and preventing sedentary lifestyles in Jamaica is to provide more green spaces and facilities so citizens can exercise.

The role of schools and other organizations: The respondents in this study believed that schools and other organizations have a responsibility to the society to encourage physical activity participation. This was evident with 38.3% of the respondents that believed schools and other organizations should educate people on the importance of physical activity. While another 35.6% of the respondents believed that schools and other organizations should provide the resources and time to employees necessary for them to participate in physical activity.

Free access to facilities: The respondents indicated that they have free access to a football field, but this was only represented by 55% of the participants that either agreed or strongly agreed. The other positive was regarding green areas, 51% of the participants indicated that they have free access to green areas. However, as it relates to swimming pools, courts, and gyms; 86%, 74%, and 67% respectively strongly disagreed, disagreed, or were undecided.

Participation in physical activity: The survey also covered the participation in physical activity and the participants were asked to indicate the number of times that they engage in physical activity. The highest percentage response of 35.4% was obtained in 2-3 times per week. While 16.5% of the participants indicated that they only participate in physical activity once per week and another 16. 1% indicated that they participate in physical activities once per day.

Growth and productivity: These are areas that Jamaica is striving to improve, so this survey was geared towards getting the general opinion of respondents on the impact of sedentary lifestyles on growth and productivity. The perception of respondents as indicated by 44.8%, is that sedentary lifestyles affect productivity and diminish Jamaica's growth and development progress. A further 20.9% of the respondents indicated that they were in strong support of this. Despite many of the participants agreeing and strongly agreeing there were 21.8% of the participants that were undecided.

This phase of the research was done after collecting quantitative data from persons with chronic lifestyle diseases and persons in the physical activity industry. The qualitative phase used semi-structured interviews which were audio-recorded and transcribed before been coded and analyzed for themes. To better understand the data as stated previously, a thematic analysis was carried out using a coding system for each participant. Throughout the analysis of the data four general themes were reoccurring: inactivity in Jamaica, the current initiatives by MOHW to curb inactivity in Jamaica, Jamaica's needs and the physical activity policy, and the challenges facing Jamaica. The results from the qualitative aspect are being presented under these four themes.

One of the most recurring themes in the data analysis is inactivity in Jamaica. All the participants unanimously agreed that there is some level of inactivity in Jamaica. Many opinion-based types of research have been done in the Caribbean region but the research that all four participants referred to was the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey that was conducted in 2017-2018. The survey noted that 82% of Jamaicans are engaged in low levels of physical activity while 16% are engaged in moderate physical activity. According to participant 1, “the data is showing that 82% of the population is inactive. Only 2% is participating in higher activity and 15% in the recommended amount of physical activity, which is at least 30 minutes, five days per week.” While participant 2 made similar references to the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey, "it shows that 82%, I'm trying to remember the data, that only 18% of Jamaicans were doing enough physical activity to benefit them health-wise, moderate 16% and intense levels as 2% of Jamaicans.”

All the participants acknowledged the efforts of the MOHW in promoting and providing basic guidelines for the general population. Participant 4 indicated that more needs to be done but commended the government for their efforts thus far:

I am not satisfied but I must commend the government on promoting and supporting because this has been a long way coming. Where we are with the Jamaica Moves and the exposure of physical activity and physical education, this has been a long journey. What persons are seeing now is not a quick thing, it was in the pipeline.

However, they all agreed that a lot more can be done and a lot more is needed to combat physical inactivity levels. All the participants were aware of the Jamaica Moves initiative and praised its establishment. Three of the four participants were very knowledgeable about the Ministry's initiatives to include: physical activity guide toolkit for schools and workplaces, capacity building for; health education officers, doctors, nurses, and community personnel, grassroots development in schools- camps and workshops, national school moves day, TV ads promoting physical activity, physical activity wellness checks for workplaces and the hiring of four PA specialist for each region.

Another theme that emerged from the semi-structured interviews was Jamaica’s need for a policy to govern physical activity. Three out of the four participants argued that Jamaica and by extension the MOHW needs a specialized unit or department to manage physical activity in the country. The results were unanimous about the inadequate number of human resource personnel assigned to the physical activity section within MOHW. The participants believed that an extensive human resource team to monitor, evaluate, and execute physical activity programs across Jamaica is needed. For this team of specialists to be effective, the participants believed that Jamaica needs to have a clear national lifestyle policy for physical activity.

The final theme that emerged from the data analysis were the challenges that are facing Jamaica in the fight against inactivity and the possible challenges that we would face in implement a national policy. The respondents believed that educating Jamaicans on the importance of PA and getting them to buy into the policy will be very difficult based on culture. Participant 2 explained that, "I think it is the culture, the Jamaican culture that we have is a sedentary culture. So, getting an active culture is not going to take a day, it is going to take time.” The lack of support from the government is seen as a challenge by many of the participants. They believed that influential persons in the government such as Ministers and the Prime Minister must see the need for enough support to be given. additionally, Funding is needed to provide resources and the development of a physical activity unit. They will also aid in the hiring of a cadre of physical activity specialists and technical support staff as indicated by the respondents. Participant 1 explained that a physical activity unit could solve all these issues:

I do think that physical activity needs to be a unit for itself, because when you look at the rest of the world, the first world countries, they have a physical activity divisional unit, sometimes they pair it with nutrition, and sometimes by itself, and because of physical activity, eating and moving to go hand in hand so you are doing some conscious planning together as a unit and some habits simply stand by themselves.

The Global Physical Activity Policies

The global policy for physical activity is driven by the WHO, they have developed mandates and guidelines for physical activity. Guidelines were discussed in a consultation targeting, Physical Activity Policy Development: A Synopsis of the WHO/CDC Consultation on September 29 through October 2, 2002, in Atlanta, Georgia created a step-by-step guideline for countries to develop their national physical activity policies. The recommended physical activity policy framework comprised of six stages. Stage 1. Vision for PA policy is established: It must be sustainable, credible, innovative, adaptable, equitable, socially just, and linked with appropriate data. Stage 2. Making the case. Stage 3. Defining the problem. Stage 4. Solutions. Stage 5. Implementation: Elements of successful programs and stage 6. Evaluation -formative, process, and impact (outcomes).

To track the global progress in PA monitoring, research, and policy, the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA) was founded in 2012 ⁹. GoPA is a council of the International Society for Physical Activity and Health. At the time when GoPA was established, there was little data available on national PA surveillance, analysis, and policy that would allow comparisons between different countries and regions of the world ^{9, 10}. GoPA in 2015 issued the so-called “PA Country Cards”, they have provided PA profiles for 139 countries. The data presented in the Country Cards offered a valuable starting point for a deeper understanding of global PA policy development. Details on the study, surveillance, and the availability of national action plans for PA were included in the first collection of Country Cards ^{9, 10}. One of the priorities of the second set of Country Cards that were published in 2020 is the comprehensiveness, implementation, and effectiveness of PA policies ^{9, 10}. Also, national policies change over time, so information on PA policies need to be updated periodically.

Under the global policy for physical activity, several types of research have been done in the area, notable was a national physical activity and sedentary behavior policies in 76 countries: availability, comprehensiveness, implementation, and effectiveness by Pogrmilovic et al. ⁹. The results indicated that 92% of the countries had a formal written policy for physical activity. Another notable research was titled "Turning the tide: national policy approaches to increasing physical activity in seven European countries" that was written by Bull et al. ¹¹. The results showed that all seven countries reported some legislation or policy across the sectors of education, sport, and health. The review also noted that many countries have either embedded or have separate units or departments in their Ministry of Health for physical activity. This increased drive by many countries seem to have been sparked by WHO’s mandates on physical activities, the 70% death rate due to non-communicable diseases globally, and the need to improve growth and development in their country with a healthy workforce. One strategy that was utilized by many countries based on the reviews is a community wide strategy targeting inactivity.

4. Discussion

The results of the research indicated that a national physical activity policy will provide much-needed resources that will bring structure, procedures, guidelines, monitoring, and evaluation systems for physical activity and inactivity. Pogrmilovic et al. ⁹ research agreed with the results of this study, their research was carried out in 76 countries and the results indicated that a national physical activity policy may contribute to evidence-based development of new PA policies and better implementation and evaluation of existing PA policies. Bull et al. ¹¹ also added that national PA guidelines (or recommendations) provide a consensus position on the amount of physical activity needed for health benefits. It also provides the foundation for national targets and a benchmark for evaluating progress.

The policy will help to form further institutional coordination and cooperation in the promotion and implementation of physical activity across the island. This particular result was strongly supported by Pogrmilovic et al. ⁹ research that further explained that a national PA policy will achieve sustainable reforms within the health, education, sport, and other sectors. Particularly regarding the promotion of more PA and raising awareness among policymakers and other public health stakeholders about existing challenges, gaps, and prospects in national-level PA promotion. The policy will help to create a physical activity unit or department within the MOHW and provide the necessary specialists and technical human resource personnel needed to execute an island-wide policy. The national policy will also help to regulate and certify the physical activity industry. Pogrmilovic et al. ⁹ argued that these are all initiatives that are being promoted by the WHO in launching their action plan:

The Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030 urging countries around the world to implement policy actions that will support efforts to reduce levels of physical inactivity and sedentary behavior (SB) and contribute to meeting the global target of a 15% relative reduction in the prevalence of insufficient PA by 2030 (p. 2).

The results from the research indicated that the policy would improve promotion, detection, and engagement in physical activity at all levels of the country, this will ultimately help to reduce sedentary lifestyles. Pogrmilovic et al. ¹⁰ supported these findings in their study titled "A global systematic scoping review of studies analyzing indicators, development, and content of the national-level physical activity and sedentary behavior policies". Pogrmilovic et al. ¹⁰ further explained that:

The policy environment is perceived as one of the important determinants influencing active living at the population level. The main goals of public policy related to PA are to allow for creating supportive programs, infrastructure, and environments for people to engage in physically active lifestyles (p. 2).

The research has also shown that countries that have introduced national physical activity policies have generated more awareness of healthy lifestyle practices and improved inactivity levels. The Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey when comparing 2007-2008 and 2017-2018 showed a reduction in inactivity levels that some researchers have attributed to the increasing awareness and promotions of physical activity by the MOHW with initiatives such as the Jamaica Moves program. Participants in the survey also indicated that their health outcomes were due to policies and guidelines implemented by the government. Pogrmilovic et al. ¹⁰ argued that national policy approaches to PA promotion and reduction are essential aspects needed to address the rising rates of NCDs. Pogrmilovic et al. ¹⁰ believed that policy initiatives by governments will ultimately increase awareness and promotion which will see more participation in PA that will reduce sedentary lifestyles and inactivity within the country.

The results of the research suggest that there is a cause for concern in relation to both facilities and instructors. Rural and sub rural areas seem to have available spaces for the participation in physical activity. However, the urban areas seem to be a challenge. According to a study published by Wang and Wang ¹² titled "Providing Sports Venues on Mainland China: Implications for Promoting Leisure-Time Physical Activity and National Fitness Policies", they believed that facilities play a significant role in the promotion and implementation of a national PA policy. In a review of the 2014 Chinese Fitness Survey Report in the same study published by Wang and Wang ¹², the report stated that "a lack of physical activity (PA) spaces is the most important non-human factor, leading to 10% of leisure-time physical inactivity in people aged 20 and above” (p.1).

Wang and Wang ¹² research supported the findings from this research regarding the importance of facilities in the promotion and participation in physical activity. With limited space in the urban areas, people wanting to participate in physical activity must go on the streets or in their homes which are not ideal for some types of physical activity. The research results have indicated that a multi-ministerial approach is needed with the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport to have some of their facilities available for people to engage in physical activities. Another necessary collaboration is with schools and other organizations that have facilities to make them available in urban spaces for physical activity. Bull et al. ¹¹ research on national physical activity approaches also agrees with collaboration for an effective national physical activity policy. Bull et al. ¹¹ further explained that a strong policy framework for health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) is necessary to define a plan for coherent multilevel action, to foster partnerships across sectors, and to secure political commitment and gain recognition as a priority policy area.

As it relates to the instructors, the results indicated that Jamaica does not have a short supply of fitness instructors, but the way physical activity is traditionally done has changed. The results have indicated that there is a need to regulate the physical activity industry to ensure that instructors can accurately apply the scientific aspect of physical activity. In a study published by De Lyon et al. ¹³ titled "The Role of Fitness Professionals in Public Health: A Review of the Literature", they explained that the role of fitness instructors in a national physical activity policy is not greatly studied but does play a vital role in the execution of the policy recommendations.

De Lyon et al. ¹³ further explained that “whereas the problem of physical inactivity is widely accepted, there is far less consensus about effective solutions, the locus of responsibility and role of different professional groups in addressing it are indeed, the root cause of the problem” (p. 313). De Lyon et al. ¹³ argued that:

It is in this dynamic and contested context that the fitness industry and its workforce of fitness professionals operate, with claims that they can become a valuable public health resource and an essential component in the delivery of policy recommendations for reducing physical inactivity (p. 313).

De Lyon et al. ¹² research went on to point out the important need for sport sciences in the industry but stress that the industry has the facilities, footprint, and expertise to deliver on the current health agendas. Overall, the research results have indicated that the availability of facilities and instructors could assist with the inactivity in Jamaica and ultimately improving chronic lifestyle diseases.

The results of the research have indicated that healthy bodies will ultimately have better minds and better minds are more productive. The challenge is that Jamaicans work in conditions where they must sit for long hours and some person’s lifestyle does not offer them enough time to engage in physical activities. Pogrmilovic et al. ¹⁰ supports the findings of this research by indicating that we need to overcome the issue of prolonged sitting in workplaces which causes lifestyle diseases that stress the country's growth and development even more. Pogrmilovic et al. ¹⁰ further explained that in 2013, the estimated cost of insufficient PA to worldwide health-care systems was around 53.8 billion international dollars. Insufficient PA and prolonged sitting are, therefore, not just significant health risk factors for global mortality but also a vast economic burden for national health care systems.

The results of this study also suggest that an active population can potentially reduce chronic lifestyle diseases and in turn, reducing the government spending on chronic lifestyle diseases. Healthier workers will be able to work longer hours and take fewer sick leaves creating a more productive workforce. According to Sécula et al. ¹⁴ in a research titled "Evidence-based policy-making for health promotion to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases in Moldova", there are significant benefits that can the derived from having an active nation such as reducing the burden on the economy from health-related bills, more productive workers and reducing stress levels. Sécula et al. ¹⁴ further explained that it reduces disease burden and avoiding premature deaths through integrated actions, improving the quality of life and healthy life expectancy.

5. Conclusion

The purpose of the research was to investigate the need for the implementation of structures, standards, and policies to govern physical activity across the length and breathe of Jamaica. To also provide recommendations centered in research to establish proper facilities/green areas, trained officials, regulation of physical activity industries, appropriately planned activities, and making physical activity a way of life in Jamaica. The results of the research indicated that Jamaica's inactivity levels warrant a national policy intervention based on the mandates of the WHO in launching the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030. WHO is urging countries around the world to implement policy actions that will support efforts to reduce the levels of physical inactivity and contribute to meeting the global target of a 15% relative reduction in the prevalence of insufficient PA by 2030.

The research also revealed that a national physical activity policy will ensure much-needed resources that will provide structure, procedures, guidelines, monitoring, and evaluation systems for physical activity and inactivity in Jamaica. A policy such as this is an important determinant influencing active living at the population level. The main goals of public policy related to PA are to allow for creating supportive programs, infrastructure, and environments for people to engage in physically active lifestyles ¹⁰. The research also highlighted the importance of a lack of physical activity (PA) spaces, as the most important non-human factor, leading to 10% of leisure-time physical inactivity in people aged 20 and above. The role of properly trained physical trainers is crucial to the implementation of a national PA policy. These initiatives and more will help to reduce the burden on the economy from health-related bills, more productive workers, improving the quality of life, healthy life expectancy, and reducing stress levels.

6. Recommendations for Future Research

Based on the conclusion of the study, the findings can be used to guide more research on physical activity levels in Jamaica. More local research is needed to better support a national physical activity policy for Jamaica. More research can be executed in the following areas: The feasibility and success of the initiatives that have been employed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness to curb the inactivity levels in Jamaica, practical experiment type research is needed in the areas of physical activity, assessing the current resources available for the implementation of a national physical activity policy, more research is needed to assess the awareness of Jamaicans regarding chronic lifestyle diseases and also studies are needed on the true causes of inactivity and sedentary lifestyles in Jamaica.

References