Table 1 Qualitative results for theme: perceptions of physical activity

Preferred types of physical activity

(N = 205 MU, N = 10 FG)

Daily chores (N = 36 MU, N = 10 FG)

Sweeping, sweeping in the morning, for exercise.

Walking (N = 31 MU, N = 9 FG)

I always walk, walking everyday… [inaudible] wherever I’m going I walk.

Dancing (N = 24 MU, N = 10 FG)

Dancing, using dance for exercises…when you dance to music... all of that is exercise.

Jumping (N = 16 MU, N = 7 FG)

Using the skipping rope [is exercise]…

Press-ups (N = 13 MU, N = 5 FG)

Yes, even press ups and … you can strengthen your muscles.

Lifting weights (N = 11 MU, N = 4 FG)

And then weight lifting [I would do for exercise].

Jogging (N = 9 MU, N = 6 FG)

The exercise we know in Ghana here is jogging.

Team sports (N = 7 MU, N = 4 FG)

I do some small volley.

Stretching (N = 6 MU, N = 3 FG)

I would also want to stretch my arms… stretching my neck.

Abdominal exercises (N = 5 MU, N = 4 FG)

Twisting the waist [you can do for exercise].

Other aerobic exercise (N = 4 MU, N = 4 FG)

Swimming too, swimming too…. He wants a swimming pool … we don’t know how to swim, we live here, but we don’t know how to swim.

Other strength training (N = 4 MU, N = 4 FG)

I do a lot of muscle strengthening activities, but it’s not weightlifting.

Tennis (N = 3 MU, N = 1 FG)

If you know how to play long tennis [for exercise].

Barriers to physical activity (N = 157 MU, N = 10 FG)

Lack of equipment (N = 48 MU, N = 10 FG)

The environment, here we don’t have the means, see the machines we don’t have them, so you wouldn’t know where [to exercise].

Ill health (N = 25 MU, N = 9 FG)

Like maybe you are sick [so you cannot do physical activity].

Laziness (N = 24 MU, N = 9 FG)

One big hindrance [to exercising] will be laziness.

Lack of time (N = 19 MU, N = 8 FG)

In our setting, for instance, even though we are retired, there are other activities, sometimes you would be required to move, around 5:30, you are going to a family house somewhere, you are traveling, you are doing this, so many other activities, so actually, there would not be the time for you to be doing these things. Except on very few occasions, that you will have time for yourself.

Poverty (N = 8 MU, N = 3 FG)

You are living in poverty (laughter). In poverty (laughter).

Transportation (N = 8 MU, N = 4 FG)

Means of transport is also I mean very difficult when the exercise is far. Eh you have to get a means of transportation for the old people because not a lot of time they can come to do the exercise.

Weather (N = 7 MU, N = 2 FG)

At times when it is rainy season, it makes it very difficult…

Lack of appropriate programs (N = 4 MU, N = 3 FG)

[We need something specific for older adults] rather than neglect, total neglect.

Tiredness (N = 4 MU, N = 3 FG)

But after a while me myself I will feel tired.

Lack of interest (N = 4 MU, N = 3 FG)

Lack of interest, lack of interest [will prevent me from exercising].

Safety concerns (N = 4 MU, N = 2 FG)

But if you have no other place but, but just walking by the roadside, you have heard several times that people go for walking, they’ve been knock down.

Perception of strength training (N = 3 MU, N = 3 FG)

As for me, I don’t like muscle training…

Facilitators to physical activity (N = 94 MU, N = 10 FG)

Determination (N = 37 MU, N = 8 FG)

You have to be determine, it’s determination that we are talking about, determination, the will power, that is determination. If you have the determination, you have the will power to do it.

Routine (N = 27 MU, N = 10 FG)

Well, I said that, you know, you’ve been doing this for a while, and you feel good when you do it, so skipping for a day will make you have a nagging feeling of missing something, because it has become part of you, and so you will …

Music (N = 9 MU, N = 6 FG)

Music…. motives me… to exercise, yes, yes.

Family support (N = 7 MU, N = 4 FG)

If you have children too, then you will let them be part of it. Sometimes they will even prompt you, let’s go and do this

Healthy diet (N = 6 MU, N = 2 FG)

Then, uh, you know, diet has a lot in influence on our body.

Keep Fit club (N = 5 MU, N = 4 FG)

So please, know that we have just formed a Keep Fit club in the church. We will meet at least once a month.

Good health (N = 3 MU, N = 2 FG)

When you are healthy [you can meet physical activity recommendations].

Benefits of physical activity (N = 90 MU, N = 10 FG)

Overall health (N = 16 MU, N = 8 FG)

You become healthy, healthier than normal [when you exercise].

Strength (N = 15 MU, N = 7 FG)

For people who are not strong, it [being physically active] helps strengthen your muscles and makes you stronger.

Heart health (N = 13 MU, N = 6 FG)

[Exercise] makes your heart good strong.

Weight management (N = 9 MU, N = 4 FG)

And, [exercise] also helps to reduce weight too.

Sweating (N = 7 MU, N = 6 FG)

Well, I think that exercising allows you to sweat.

Fitness (N = 6 MU, N = 4 FG)

[And if you exercise] it helps you to get fit.

Mental health (N = 6 MU, N = 2 FG)

There is another type of issue, generally as we interact during that, you know, period of exercising emotionally you realize that people get over uh... some of the emotional problems. Like if they are widows amongst us, if they are people who are being stressed out and all those kind of things, it will help.

Long life (N = 6 MU, N = 3 FG)

We will be able to live long [if we exercise].

Sleep (N = 4 MU, N = 2 FG)

You will be able to sleep [if you exercise].

Diabetes management (N = 3 MU, N = 2 FG)

Your sugar level also, can can can come down [if you exercise].

Osteoporosis prevention (N = 3 MU, N = 2 FG)

[Exercise] makes your bones strong.

Joint health (N = 2 MU, N = 2 FG)

When you exercise, it strengthens your joints.

Factors that would encourage physical activity participation

(N = 89 MU, N = 9 FG)

Peer influence (N = 25 MU, N = 8 FG)

What will convince me is when I see my age mates engage in these exercises without suffering any adverse effects, such as bodily pains. I believe that will convince me to exercise.

Health care provider recommendation (N = 15 MU, N = 6 FG)

When I visit the hospital, the doctor can let me know that I need to exercise, so the doctor can convince me to exercise.

Gradual progress (N = 14 MU, N = 7 FG)

And when you do it [exercise] and you feel it… that is going on well for you, you are motivated to do more.

Physical appearance (N = 14 MU, N = 4 FG)

Okay…when you see how the body is like, it will convince you [to do muscle strengthening activities]…yeh.

Focus group information (N = 11 MU, N = 6 FG)

What I want to say is that, in fact, on the whole the program has been educative and very err, errr, very successful. We want to, on behalf of the church, thank you and your colleagues for bringing this program to our doorstep, and we promise as a church, that we are going to start a Keep Fit club in the church, so that every weekend or once in a month we will meet as a church members, exercise our bodies, so that we can grow healthy, and then live long.

TV programs (N = 7 MU, N = 6 FG)

When you watch the TV, you can see people of the same age as you exercising and that person will be healthy and you sit down and ask yourself why are these people doing it and I am not?

Existing knowledge (N = 3 MU, N = 2 FG)

I don’t think we need anybody to convince us. We know that it’s [exercise] necessary.

Current timing, location, and frequency of physical activity (N = 60 MU, N = 9 FG)

Time of day (N = 32 MU, N = 9 FG)

Morning (N = 26)

Evening (N = 5)

Any time (N = 1)

You know, I think it is better in the morning, before you take your bath.

Location (N = 23 MU, N = 7 FG)

Home (N = 17)

Gym (N = 2)

Mountains (N = 2)

Streets (N = 1)

Church (N = 1)

At times, in my bedroom, or in the hall [I would do aerobic exercise].

Frequency (N = 5 MU, N = 2 FG)

Four days a week (N = 3)

Three days a week (N = 1)

Daily 1 (N = 1)

[I will do exercise] and will do it four days in the week.

Physical activity recommendations (N = 52 MU, N = 9 FG)

Positive perception (N = 23 MU, N = 7 FG)

It’s ok. If you are able to do at least 30 min even a day, iii is good it’s good for the body

Concern about age appropriateness (N = 20 MU, N = 7 FG)

[I] feel it’s [the recommendations] a bit harsh. As elderly as I am, it’s harsh. If you are about 90 years.

Neutral perception (N = 6 MU, N = 4 FG)

We, we are saying that [exercise] should be in moderation.

Negative perception (N = 6 MU, N = 3 FG)

You cannot do it [meet physical activity recommendations].

Potential negative consequences of physical activity

(N = 50 MU, N = 10 FG)

Injury (N = 16 MU, N = 8 FG)

It [exercise] may even cause them [your joints] to dislocate.

Soreness (N = 14 MU, N = 7 FG)

Initially, you also feel the pains, the pains [if you exercise].

Lose weight (N = 7 MU, N = 2 FG)

Your weight...that is if you do exercise you become [too] slim.

Heart problems (N = 5 MU, N = 4 FG)

Palpitate… some people palpitate [during exercise]…

Lack of energy (N = 5 MU, N = 4 FG)

It [physical activity] may not give you enough energy to work.

Difficulty sleeping (N = 3 MU, N = 1 FG)

Please, I learnt that when you do it [exercise] in the evening, it makes your sleep to be very difficult… that’s what I learnt.