AUTHOR=Motuma Aboma , Gobena Tesfaye , Roba Kedir Teji , Berhane Yemane , Worku Alemayehu TITLE=Sedentary Behavior and Associated Factors Among Working Adults in Eastern Ethiopia JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2021 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.693176 DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2021.693176 ISSN=2296-2565 ABSTRACT=Background: Cardiovascular diseases is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa and has been partly attributed to changes in lifestyle and increased sedentary behavior. Although people in low-income countries were traditionally highly mobile, the changing lifestyle in recent decades has increased sedentarism. The objective of this study was to assess the extent of sedentary behavior and associated factors among working adults in eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1164 working adults at Haramaya University from December 2018 to February 2019. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using WHO STEPS and sedentary behavior questionnaire (watching television, playing computer/video games, sitting during eating and drinking, listening to music, talking on the phone, doing paperwork or office work, napping, reading, socializing with friends and / or family activities, sitting and driving/riding in a car or bus). All reported activities were coded into three domain (leisure, occupation, and transport). The total sedentary behavior was dichotomized at ≥ 8 h/day. The prevalence ratio (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was calculated, and factors associated with total sedentary behavior were identified using Poisson regression with robust variance statistical model. Results: The prevalence of sedentary behavior was 20.3% (95% CI, 18.0%–22.7%) among the study participants. The total mean (±SD) sedentary time was 5.9 (±2.1) hours per day, with 5.8 (±2.3) hours for weekdays and 6.2(±2.2) hours for weekends. The prevalence of sedentary behavior increased with increased participants of age 45-54 years (APR: 2.00; 95% CI=1.01–3.97) and 55-64 years old (APR: 2.16; 95% CI=1.03–4.57), being non-manual work (APR: 2.11; 95% CI=1.46–3.05), frequent khat chewers (APR: 1.57; 95% CI = 1.22–2.01), with body mass index of ≥ 25 kg/m2 (APR: 1.93; 95% CI=1.53–2.44), and regular alcohol drunker (APR: 1.39; 95% CI=1.11–1.76) were associated with higher prevalence of sedentary behavior. Conclusion: One-fifth of working adults had sedentary behavior and was more common mainly among non-manual work. The mean sedentary time was higher during leisure time. Older age, non-manual work, substance use behaviors, and having high body mass index were associated with sedentary behaviors. The findings suggest that health promotion is crucial to reduce sedentary behavior among working adults.