[Barriers to participation in public physical activity programs: comparison between Brazil and the Northeast region, National Health Survey (NHS), 2019].

Lack of interest was the most frequent barrier to participation in public physical activity programs in both Brazil and the Northeast region.

• Lack of interest was reported by 42.2% of non-participants in Brazil and 45.1% in the Northeast region.
• The study analyzed individuals aged 18 or older who reported being aware of but not participating in public physical activity programs.
• Data were drawn from the 2019 National Health Survey (NHS).

Opening hours were the second most frequent barrier to participation in public physical activity programs.

• Opening hours were cited as a barrier by 32.8% of non-participants in Brazil and 30.6% in the Northeast region.
• This was the second most commonly reported barrier in both geographic strata.

Distance from home was the third most frequently reported barrier to participation in public physical activity programs.

• Distance from home was cited by 11.2% of non-participants in Brazil and 11.8% in the Northeast region.
• This barrier was consistent in prevalence across both geographic strata.

Health problems were the fourth most frequently reported barrier to participation in public physical activity programs.

• Health problems were cited by 8.1% of non-participants in Brazil and 8.4% in the Northeast region.
• This barrier showed similar prevalence between the national and regional samples.

Sociodemographic characteristics showed statistically significant differences in one or more barriers to participation in public physical activity programs.

• Variables showing statistically significant differences included sex, age, marital status, having paid employment, and family income.
• These differences were observed across one or more of the barriers analyzed.
• The analysis was stratified by Brazil overall and the Northeast region specifically.

The study population consisted of Brazilian residents aged 18 or older who were aware of but not participating in public physical activity programs, using 2019 National Health Survey data.

• Data source was the 2019 National Health Survey (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde).
• Inclusion criteria required individuals to be aged 18 years or older.
• Participants must have reported knowing about public physical activity programs but not participating in them.
• Analysis was stratified by Brazil (BR) and the Northeast region (NE).