Identifying the Contextual Factors Affecting the Policymaking of Physical Activity in Iran: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background. The reduced level of physical activity is a current global concern. To address this concern, encouraging physical activity should be highlighted by public health policymakers of the countries. This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the policies on physical activity in Iran. Methods. In this qualitative study, the analytical framework was adopted to interview 23 key informants selected by the targeted sampling with maximum variation from October 2020 to February 2021. The semi-structured interviews were performed and analyzed until the data saturation was achieved. MAXQDA-10 software was used for data management. Results. Different factors including managerial-structural, socio-cultural, political (i.e., policymaking, legal, and international), and situational factors (i.e., perceived environmental factors, changes in people's lifestyle, and restrictions caused by COVID-19) were the main contextual factors affecting the policymaking process. Conclusion. It was concluded that several relevant factors affected the policymaking in Iran regarding the physical activity. Therefore, it was recommended that these contributory factors should be considered by policymakers when making policies on physical activities.