Table 2 Qualitative results for theme: physical activity program characteristics

Meeting preferences (N = 142 MU, N = 10 FG)

Program location (N = 67 MU, N = 10 FG)

Church (N = 27)

Park (N = 12)

Diabetes hospital (N = 6)

Field (N = 4)

Gym (N = 4)

Conference room (N = 3)

Spacious place (N = 2)

Stadium (N = 2)

Close to home (N = 3)

Clubhouse (N = 1)

Car park (N = 1)

Community center (N = 1)

Depends on program (N = 1)

If you are living around this place, perhaps you can use the Church [for an exercise program].

Program frequency (N = 38 MU, N = 10 FG)

Once a week (N = 24)

Three times a week (N = 10)

Twice a week (N = 6)

Once a month (N = 4)

Twice a month (N = 2)

Daily (N = 1)

Holidays (N = 1)

Once a week, you will got the office from Monday to Friday, on Sunday too, you must prepare for church, so Saturday is good for that.

Program duration (N = 37 MU, N = 9 FG)

One hour (N = 18 MU)

Two hours (N = 10 MU)

Thirty minutes (N = 5 MU)

Ninety minutes (N = 4 MU)

One, one hour will be okay [for the class].

Need for education

N = 110 MU

N = 10 FG

Nutrition (N = 62 MU, N = 9 FG)

You will need to have someone teach us about what foods are good for us, and what foods are not. So if, we have someone who leads us in this direction, we will become more careful with our eating habits, even help with the supply of foods, such as the fruits that they talk about, that will help us.

Types of physical activity (N = 23 MU, N = 9 FG)

She is asking if she can lie down and do [aerobic activity in bed].

Ministry of Health involvement (N = 7 MU, N = 4 FG)

I also think that if it’s a recommendation, then they [Ministry of Health] should educate the public. Because this is the first time I’m hearing from you.

Lack of information (N = 7 MU, N = 5FG)

I don’t get any health information from anybody…

Benefits of physical activity (N = 5MU, N = 5 FG)

Also, I would like to be told what the negative consequences of not engaging in exercises may be.

Injury / illness considerations (N = 4MU, N = 3 FG)

Okay, please, we mentioned several exercises that we could do, and my question is that for someone who may have a problem such as a bad knee and therefore cannot do certain exercises, are you able to provide any recommendations, as to what exercise may be appropriate?

Unsafe recommendations (N = 2 MU, N = 2 FG)

We are also advice to walk barefooted but our foot can be pierced by broken glass or any harmful item. So in fact this sickness of ours [diabetes] has become a sickness you can’t really understand and we don’t know the where about of it.

Leader preferences

N = 109 MU

N = 10 FG

Qualifications (N = 65 MU, N = 10 FG)

Trained instructor (N = 26 MU)

Peer leader (N = 24 MU)

PE teacher (N = 9 MU)

Resource person (N = 4 MU)

Health care provider (N = 2 MU)

Anybody who is well-versed in that act, in physical education can lead us. He would know what ages and what exercises to apply for us.

Age preference (N = 24 MU, N = 8

FG)

Same age (N = 10 MU)

Younger (N = 6 MU)

Any age (N = 8 MU)

One this is if the instructor is below 40 years of age, he will kill us [laughter] yes, it’s true [amid laughter] because the young can bend and they will be asking us to bend also you know [laughter].

Traits (N = 16 MU, N = 5 FG)

Knowledgeable (N = 5)

Organized (N = 4)

Enjoyable (N = 3)

Strong (N = 2)

Active (N = 1)

Encouraging (N = 1)

Those who have the knowledge and skill in training people [should teach the class].

Gender preference (N = 4 MU, N = 3

FG)

Same gender (N = 2)

Any gender (N = 2)

…but a man should train a man and a woman should train a woman.

Need for group- based program

N = 72 MU

N = 9 FG

Motivation (N = 19 MU, N = 7 FG)

It [group physical activity] encourages you to do more.

Group cohesion (N = 13 MU, N = 4FG)

You have the same family, what concerns one also concerns you.

Group norms (N = 11 MU, N = 6 FG)

…I would encourage the members to be punctual, to be punctual, I’ll encourage the members to be punctual.

Positive perception (N = 10 MU, N = 6FG)

So if you have a group that you can engage in the exercise with, it helps a lot.

Accountability (N = 8 MU, N = 5 FG)

The group is the best because, if you are lazy to go, they will come and call you hahaha yes. They will come to you, that one also.

Enjoyment (N = 8 MU, N = 5 FG)

When we work together, it will help us, and we will be happy.

Distinctiveness (N = 3 MU, N = 3 FG)

Please, I think things such as clothing and shoes that we will wear for the program, that identifies us to all that we are one group involved in exercise, will help.

Delivery method

N = 62 MU

N = 10 FG

In person (N = 36 MU, N = 9 FG)

So I wanted to say is that, (crosstalk) if the person is standing before you, you have an advantage and if he is explaining, that will help you to better understand what he is saying. But if the information is on CD, you can’t even ask questions. So if the person is before you, that’s the best.

DVD (N = 6 MU, N = 5 FG)

DVD, because with that you can also see the [exercises demonstrated]...

Electronic communication (N = 5 MU, N = 2 FG)

I will prefer information through email.

Social media (N = 4 MU, N = 4 FG)

That is very good, it helps [to get information via WhatsApp].

Need trusted sources (N = 3 MU, N=3 FG)

Know the person…qualification, who is talking to you… Facebook, err, online, on those things you don’t know, sometimes they are misleading.

Consider cost (N = 3 MU, N = 3 FG)

It is useful but it is expensive, it is expensive, even even how to acquire all those things, even even you tube, you can’t just go there and be watching all these things… even the DVD, the internet work is expensive…but how to maintain them is expensive but it is good.

Mass media (N = 3 MU, N = 3 FG)

People do listen to the radio, majority have radio.

Individual program (N = 2 MU, N = 1FG)

Well, for me, I don’t believe that you have to join a group before you exercise. You should, yourself, engage in mini exercises. So in my own home, or I can walk. I can do it according to my own song. I don’t look at others to live my life. I do what suits me.

Activities

N = 60 MU

N = 9 FG

Active games (N = 13 MU, N = 7 FG)

Playing ampe [we would do as a group].

Health screening (N = 11 MU, N = 7 FG)

And it would be advisable that when you are in a group, sometimes you have, you invite medical… err... doctors, to at least see if we fall in the range, that is they can take our BP they can advise what to do…

Physical activity (N = 11 MU, N = 6FG)

[We would do] various exercises that will cater for the whole body.

Health talk (N = 9 MU, N = 4 FG)

Sometimes, sometimes we have to invite a resource person, a resource person, to give us some talks. Someone like a doctor.

Board games (N = 8 MU, N = 3 FG)

[We would play] ludo, and the draft.

Group events (N = 4 MU, N = 3 FG)

At times we’ll also, eat, eating!

Prayer (N = 2 MU, N = 2 FG)

And then, as Church members we pray, we pray. After the act...before the activity we pray. After the activity we say a word of prayer before we disperse…

Singing (N = 2 MU, N = 2 FG)

We will sing, we learning how to sing.

Incentives

N = 53 MU

N = 10 FG

Refreshments (N = 30 MU, N = 9 FG)

Prefer refreshments (N = 28 MU)

Refreshments not needed (N = 2 MU)

Oh, maybe [we would have] a fruit juice [as a refreshment].

Financial support (N = 15 MU, N = 7FG)

Maybe you can have some dues that you pay, in case there is a problem with any of the members

Incentive items (N = 5 MU, N = 3 FG)

Motivation, like getting some t-shirt to wear.

Transportation (N = 3 MU, N = 1 FG)

Transportation [will motivate people to get involved in the program].

Group similarity

N = 35 MU

N = 10 FG

Gender similarity (N = 30 MU, N = 9FG)

Mixed-gender (N = 21 MU)

Separate gender (N = 6 MU)

Blended program (N = 3 MU)

Oh no, it doesn’t matter, when we are all together it’s okay! Men and women, it doesn’t matter at all… everybody can do it.

Separate by age (N = 5 MU, N = 4FG)

Please, doing it in groups also helps… so like 70 going, their way of exercising, group groups, by age groups.