Self-reported health and quality of life among hikers attending the Academia das Cidades Program, Petrolina – PE, Brazil

Objective: To evaluate self-reported health (SRH) and quality of life (QOL) among hikers attending the Academia da Cidade Program (ACP). Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study carried out with 300 hickers attending the ACP in Petrolina-PE, Brazil. Interview questions were distributed into four topics: socio-demographic / lifestyle (age, sex, marital status, income, occupation and habits of life); self-reported health (5-point scale on the perception of health); quality of life (WHOQOL-WHO) and information about the ACP and benefits of walking. Results: The mean age was 40.75 (14.72) and 99 (33.0%) subjects were aged 41-60, 208 (69.3%) were women, 166 (55.3%) were married, 167 (55.7%) were over 12 years of schooling, 106 (35.3%) earned 2-3 minimum wage, 234 (78.0%) were working and 153 (51.0%) practiced walking 3 times a week. Television (37.3%) was the main source of information about the benefits of walking and social networks (55.0%) provided the main information about the existence of the program, which influenced the most (63.7%) to start the activity. There was no statistically significant difference in QOL and SAR scores, considering the age, however it was observed that, as the weekly frequency of walking increases, so do the QOL and SAR scores. Conclusion: Walking was an important determinant of health promotion and quality of life, in proportion to the increased weekly frequency of activity, and its benefits and existence of proper places for practicing have been spread by television and social networks, respectively