Perceived Barriers to Physical Activity among People Living With HIV: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to analyze barriers to physical activity (PA) among people living with HIV (PLWH). METHODS: This descriptive/hypothesis-generating cross-sectional study included 71 PLWH recruited from a Reference Center in Jataí, Goiás, Brazil. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, along with information on PA and barriers to PA. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, adopting p<0.05. RESULTS: The sample had a mean age of 39.2±11.73 years and a prevalence of males (61%). Women engaged in less physical exercise than men (p=0.005). The most frequently reported barriers to PA among PLWH were long working hours (35.2%) and lack of energy or fatigue (32.4%). Social (42.3%) and physical (35.2%) barrier categories were the most prevalent. A positive association was found between the environmental and behavioral categories and the time since HIV diagnosis, and between the social category and having a partner, lower income, and longer daily sitting time (p<0.05). DISCUSSION: The findings indicate that barriers to PA among PLWH are multifactorial. Associations with socioeconomic disadvantage, employment status, and HIV-related conditions highlight the combined relationship of biological, behavioral, and structural determinants. CONCLUSION: PLWH are adversely affected by multiple factors associated with barriers to PA, including sociodemographic, clinical, and sedentary behavior characteristics. These findings highlight the need for an assessment of the patient's context in order to better propose ways to reduce barriers and promote PA in this population.