African Journal for Physical Activity and Health Sciences

Underreported musculoskeletal injuries from gender-based violence at a tertiary orthopaedic centre using Poisson modelling

2025-04-08T13:28:06+00:00

Gender-based violence (GBV) is any type of harm perpetrated against an individual or group of people based on their actual or perceived gender or gender orientation that could result in orthopaedic injuries and eventual hospitalisation. Time of injury in orthopaedic musculoskeletal GBV is a critical concern in South Africa. Studies have rarely been conducted on modelling orthopaedic musculoskeletal gender-based violence using statistical methods. Time of injury is a count response variable in the study data, with discrete, nonnegative values, and exhibiting nonzeros. When the dispersion parameter is greater than zero or the variance is smaller than the mean, it indicates that the study data are underreported (underdispersion). Then such data can be estimated using Poisson models. Among the models capable of estimating underreported data are Poisson regression (PRM), generalised Poisson regression (GPRM), and Conway- Maxwell-Poisson (CMP) regression models. Applying these models, we compared their performances in estimating underreported orthopaedic musculoskeletal cases associated with GBV. In the results, the CMP regression model performed better than the PRM and GPRM. The study reports that most women are susceptible to GBV-related orthopaedic injuries and are likely to undergo surgery. The GBV prevalence was associated with a high unemployment rate and alcohol consumption. Fitting underreported cases of GBV orthopaedic injuries using Poisson modelling, the result showed that CMP performed better than the other two models in analysing underreported cases.

Determinants of women’s antenatal healthcare visit in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa

2025-04-08T13:38:55+00:00

Maternal and child health outcomes are directly correlated with the quality of antenatal healthcare and the number of visits. Despite its importance, women in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa continue to lack access to antenatal healthcare; in some cases, the mother and unborn child suffer terrible consequences. Yet, individual characteristics such as age, gender, population group, media consumption just to name a few, which affect women’s number of antenatal healthcare visits are still unknown in the existing body of knowledge. This study explored the factors influencing the number of antenatal healthcare visits women paid during pregnancy based on data analysed from the 2016 South Africa Demographic and Health Survey. Using SPSS Version 28, descriptive statistics and cross- tabulations were used for data analysis with a sample of 1041 pregnant women during the survey. The Chi-square test was utilised to examine the relationship between the number of antenatal healthcare visits and women’s sociodemographic characteristics. The factors associated with the number of antenatal healthcare visits were also identified using multinomial logistic regression. The bivariate results indicated that the population group of women was associated with the number of antenatal healthcare visits women in the Eastern Cape made during their pregnancy (χ² =13.481), p=0.036<0.05). The factors significantly associated with women having no antenatal healthcare visits during pregnancy were age (OR= .255), unemployment (OR=2.120), population group of women, and limited television exposure (OR=3.727). However, not watching television (OR= 2.052) was significantly associated with women making 1-4 antenatal healthcare visits. More targeted interventions are expedient for women in the Eastern Cape Province, such as increasing the availability of mobile clinics and government health facilities.

Transforming midwifery education in Eswatini

2025-04-08T13:48:52+00:00

Midwives are instrumental in decreasing mortality rates among mothers and newborns. However, midwifery education has been criticised for being inadequate in producing competent midwives. Despite that midwifery training institutions in Eswatini have adopted competency-based midwifery education, there is a lack of research-based evidence on transforming midwifery education in the country. This study was carried out to explore antecedents and enablers of transforming midwifery education in Eswatini. A grounded theory approach was applied based on a qualitative research paradigm in which eleven female participants were purposively sampled from various health sectors in Eswatini. These included the Ministry of Health, lecturers in midwifery, unit managers, and preceptors. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, using open-ended questions. The constant comparative method was used for data analysis, the findings of which indicated that for midwifery education reform to occur, there has to be a genuine need for the reform and enablers to facilitate the desired transformation. Based on the findings, the study proposes the Midwifery Education Reform Theory (MERT) as a viable model for explaining the phenomenon.

Participatory antenatal care: Outcome of a pilot programme in Soweto, South Africa

2025-04-08T13:54:57+00:00

Participatory antenatal care (ANC), which is a form of group antenatal care (G-ANC), describes the practice of having a woman take the lead in sharing her experiences and expectations with a midwife and where she has an opportunity to articulate what she feels is important for her care. The woman’s suggestions on how to address her health challenges during pregnancy are sought, and the interpretation of the data obtained during the assessment is determined by the woman and the midwife. This care is provided in a group format. Participatory ANC focuses on the reciprocal exchange of thoughts, ideas, and feelings about the self and further serves as a pathway for psychosocial care, an area subject to limitations in midwifery practice in the South African context. The aim of the current study was to pilot a context-specific group care programme to enhance antenatal care. This participatory group programme is designed to improve health literacy, increase birth preparedness, and optimise maternal and newborn outcomes. The project was piloted in two purposely selected Community Health Care centres in Soweto, Gauteng Province of South Africa. Two groups of pregnant women participated in the programme. They were recruited to a participatory antenatal care group on the day of their booking visits. The evaluation of the programme was conducted qualitatively in 2023 through a focus group discussion and in-depth interviews, to determine the women’s experiences of the programme. The pilot trial achieved its primary objective of determining the effectiveness of group-based antenatal care in South African context. The women’s responses indicated that the participatory programme had a positive impact on their antenatal care.

Effects of different head-loading masses on the posture and neuromusculoskeletal profile of pubescent girls living in the ILembe district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2025-04-10T07:44:43+00:00

Head-loading is a longstanding traditional method of transportation commonly practiced in rural African communities. This method of transportation is necessary but has adverse health concerns. This study was conducted to determine the effects of different head-loading masses on the posture and neuro-musculoskeletal health of pubescent porters living in ILembe District of KwaZuluNatal, South Africa. A cohort (n=120) of pubescent girls (aged 9-13 years) voluntarily partook in a pretest-posttest cross-over study. The participants’ craniohorizontal angle (CHA), craniovertebral angle (CVA), and selected kinanthropometrical heights were measured when they carried headloads equivalent to 25% and 50% of their body mass as well as during an unloaded state. Furthermore, participants completed a cranial loading health questionnaire. The CVA (18.5±3.0vs15.8±3.2°) and CHA (36.1±4.2vs33.6±4.5°) increased when the participants headloaded 25% of their body mass compared to the unloaded state (p<0.01). Similarly, CVA (20.7±3.2vs15.8±3.2°) and CHA (38.3±4.5vs33.6±4.5°) increased when head-loading 50% of their body mass in contrast to the unloaded state (p<0.01). During 25% head- loading, standing vertex height (SVH) (1.34±0.07vs1.42±0.1m) diminished (p<0.01), while shoulder height (1.17±0.08vs1.16±0.1m) increased (p>0.05) as compared to the unloaded state. The participants’ SVH (1.43±0.08vs1.42±0.1m) and shoulder heights (1.14±0.08vs1.16±0.1m) significantly changed when head-loading 50% of their body mass compared to the unloaded state (p<0.01). Head- loading produced neuro-musculoskeletal pain in the neck (30.5%), lower back (28.5%), shoulders (24.8%), and knees (10.6%) (X 2=0.001). When head-loading 25% of body mass, the CVA and CHA increases were accompanied with a diminished SVH, suggesting that participants experienced cervical intervertebral disc compression and posterior cervical vertebral translational movement. However, when the participants head-loaded 50% of their body mass, CVA, CHA, and SVH increased, while shoulder height decreased. This indicated that the girls presented with posterior cervical vertebral translation and cervical, thoracic, and lumbar intervertebral disc compression, producing neuro-musculoskeletal pain and postural misalignment.

Home-based treatment of childhood diseases among the Bapedi community in South Africa: A medical ethnobotanical enquiry

2025-04-10T08:14:16+00:00

The use of indigenous medicinal plants for children's overall health and wellness remains understudied and poorly explored, especially in South Africa. This study describes parents’ and caregivers’ knowledge of indigenous medicinal plants used to manage childhood diseases and promote overall well-being. The study focuses specifically on four Bapedi communities located in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The study’s data were based on ethnobotanical research conducted from 2017 to 2019, which focused on the use of medicinal herbs for primary healthcare purposes. Analysis of data obtained from semi-structured interviews with 28 parents and caregivers reports nine types of childhood diseases treated at the household level through the administration of plant-based medicines derived from 26 indigenous plant species belonging to 20 botanical families. The most reported childhood diseases are respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders, measles, chickenpox, sore eyes, rash, and conditions such as physical growth impairment, lekone (no English name), and fontanelle. The use of indigenous plant-derived medicines in primary healthcare warrants scientific validation and testing to explore the presence of new chemicals that may hold pharmaceutical and pharmacological significance in this domain.

The perceptions of primary caregivers on the social skills and recreational activities of children aged 10-12 years with Down syndrome

2025-04-10T08:40:57+00:00

Caregivers of children with Down syndrome (DS) spend an extensive amount of time supervising and carrying out health care-related tasks for those under their care. Such demands make it prudent to consider their views when addressing children's social skills development and recreational participation as this improves the quality of life of children with DS. The aim of this study was to describe primary caregivers’ perceptions about the social skills and recreational participation of 10- to 12-year-old children with DS in the North West province of South Africa. The study adopted a qualitative research approach within an interpretive paradigm, underpinned by the social model of disability. A phenomenological design was used to describe the perceptions of a group of purposively sampled primary caregivers (biological mothers: n=9) and guardians (n=4) who had primary custodianship of children with DS and participated in semi- structured interviews. Based on thematic data analysis, two main themes emerged from the findings, namely social skills and recreation participation. Key sub-themes that emerged under these broad themes included respectively, communication skills, formation of friendships and interactional skills as well as engagement in recreation activities and societal acceptance during recreation participation. The findings provide key nuances in mediating interactions between children with DS and their social environment to facilitate their inclusion in recreation activities through collaboration between primary caregivers and other stakeholders. The study proposes a multi- faceted approach involving primary caregivers, special schools, recreation professionals, occupational therapists and disability experts to enhance the social skills and recreation engagement of children with DS.

Entrepreneurial competencies and educational experiences of final year biokinetics students at a South African university

2025-04-10T08:54:23+00:00

Biokineticists are clinical exercise specialists who often establish private practices in clinical settings or engage in various entrepreneurial activities in the healthcare industry. However, their entrepreneurial competencies and how formal education prepares them for the healthcare industry have not been previously studied. A convergent parallel mixed-methods study design was used to comprehensively examine the entrepreneurial competencies and educational experiences of 23 final-year Biokinetics students at a South African university, utilising the validated Assessment Tools and Indicators for Entrepreneurship Education (ASTEE) questionnaire and focus groups. Quantitative analysis revealed high mean values in key entrepreneurial competencies, including teamwork (6.52 ± 0.51), entrepreneurial knowledge (6.46 ± 0.50), and innovative employee skills (6.03 ± 0.76), with a lower mean score for entrepreneurial teachers (4.30 ± 1.09). Qualitative analysis identified two main themes: “students' confidence and desire to be entrepreneurs” and “curriculum-related experiences.” Factors such as personal goals, family support, prior entrepreneurial and educational experiences, pedagogical approaches, module content, and workintegrated learning (WIL) influenced their competencies. Students expressed a need for improved financial skills, creativity, and adaptability, underscoring the importance of a comprehensive entrepreneurial education tailored to the professional requirements of Biokineticists. This study identifies factors (e.g., personal goals, educational experiences, pedagogical approaches, WIL, etc.) influencing competency development and assesses students’ competency levels, providing insights for educators, policymakers, curriculum developers, and industry stakeholders.

Effects of an eight-week CrossFit training programme on body composition, exercise performance and joint range of motion in student dancers

2025-04-10T09:11:21+00:00

Dancers have poor aerobic capacities, muscle strength, and strength endurance, which detract from a proper execution of their dance choreographic skills. Based on an interdisciplinary research collaboration between specialists in Dance and Exercise Science, this study evaluated the effects of an eight-week CrossFit training programme on the fitness profiles of 92 dance students (males n=24, females n=68, mean aged 22.0±2.6 years) of Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa. They were assigned to experimental (n=31) and control (n=61) groups. Participants’ kinanthropometry, aerobic capacity (VO_2max), maximal pull-ups, one-minute sit-ups, agility and proprioception were measured before and after the eight-week exercise programme using standardised protocols. After the eight-week intervention, the experimental group’s body fat mass (11.93±4.2 vs 11.05±4.2 kg) and agility (14.05±1.3 vs 12.8±1.4 sec) decreased, while aerobic capacity (24.0±4.5 vs 31.0±7.3 ml/kg/min), pull-ups (3.1±5.2 vs 4.4±5.7 reps) and abdominal strength and endurance improved (28.4±8.3 vs 36.0±7.7 reps) (p<0.01). Further, the intervention group had superior agility (14.2±1.6 vs 12.8±1.4 sec) and abdominal strength and endurance (29.4±10.8 vs 36.0±7.7 reps) scores than the control group (p<0.05). The findings, which showed that CrossFit training beneficially improved the fitness characteristics of student dancers, could have profound implications for designing and prescribing conditioning programmes to improve their performances.