Health behaviors changes during COVID-19: a study of Australianimmigrants

  • Mehwish Nisar School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
  • Tracy L Kolbe Alexander Associate Professor, Department of Sport and Exercise, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of SouthernQueensland, Ipswich, Australia
  • Dr. Asad Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University ofQueensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Keywords: COVID-19, Immigrants, South Asia, health behaviors, Australia, Pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected different immigrant groups.The increase in health risk factors in times of COVID-19 has been under-researched, among theimmigrant population of Australia. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate changes in healthbehaviors during COVID-19 in South Asian Australian immigrants. Methods: An 2020 and March 2tobacco and alcohol consumption, internet,and board games use for recreation.Result: Most immigrants (40.7%) reported an increase inalcohol consumption while only 5.3% reported a decrease. Tobacco use increased by 38.5 % whiledecreased by 3.5%. The increase in watching television (66.8%) and internet use for recreation(73.9%) were also noticeable. Physical inactivity increased in 41.1% of the participants anddecreased in 32.4%. Participants from the high-income group were significantly associated with anincrease in physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, and playing video games (p<0.005). Conclusions: Longitudinal tracking is required to understand the effect of these changes in healthbehaviors and their health consequences in the immigrant population of Australia

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Not applicable
How to Cite
Mehwish Nisar, Tracy L Kolbe Alexander, & Asaduzzaman Khan. (2022). Health behaviors changes during COVID-19: a study of Australianimmigrants. Public Health Review: International Journal of Public Health Research, 9(3), 7-11. Retrieved from https://publichealth.medresearch.in/index.php/ijphr/article/view/179
Section
Research Brief