The impact of COVID-19 quarantine on physical activities in Basra, Iraq: A cross-sectional study

The COVID-19 epidemic spread to almost all countries of the world in 2020 and 2021. The physical behavior of many people was affected during this period. Sedentary behavior and low levels of physical activity during the COVID-19 epidemic had negative effects on people’s health, well-being, and quality of life. This study aimed to determine the level of physical activity of the residents of Basra (the second-largest province in Iraq) during the COVID-19 quarantine according to sex, age, educational level, marital status, occupational/educational status, and health status. We hypothesized that the quarantine negatively affected the physical activities in terms of the number of days of physical activity and the type of physical activity practiced. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 150 participants from the province of Basra. We used an online questionnaire to get information about the quantity and types of physical activity that participants did before and during the quarantine. In general, the results showed a decrease in the number of days of physical activity for participants during the quarantine among those who engaged in physical activity for four days or more per week. Additionally, the results indicated that a high percentage of participants practiced home exercises and walking/jogging during the quarantine, with decreases in the other activities (swimming and those done inside sports clubs). The study indicated that there is an urgent need to develop a complete strategy to encourage people to engage in physical activities during any quarantine that may occur in the future.