Incidence of Lifestyle Associated Health Risks among Executives in South West Nigeria

Incidence of lifestyle associated health risks among executives were assessed across the 6 states in south west (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States) geo-political zone of Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was adopted to select 605 executives from different occupations between the periods of January 2010 – January 2012. A content-validated questionnaire tested for reliability was employed to gather data which were subjected to both inferential and descriptive statistics to analyse the bio-data, research questions and hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level. Findings revealed that, sedentary, dietary, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, drug abuse and extramarital/unprotected sex lifestyles are significant in causing associated health risks among the executives. It was recommended that qualified health educators should be employed by the executives to educate them properly on the lifestyle associated health risks, executives should engage in recreational activities to forestall inactivity and sedentary lifestyle and executives should visit reproductive health specialists to enlighten them on the extramarital/unprotected sex lifestyle diseases Keywords: Incidence, lifestyle, associated health risks, executive

Influence of occupational physical activity on anthropometric profile and body composition of bricklayers in Kwara state, Nigeria

ObjectivesOptimal amount of muscle and fat mass has been associated with level of physical activity and are basic determinants of individuals’ health, fitness including occupational performance. The study determined the level of occupational physical activity and influence on anthropometrics, body composition and health of bricklayers in Kwara state, Nigeria.MethodsDescriptive correlational design was used. During the study only three bricklaying sites were functional and all the 45 bricklayers who met the inclusion criteria were purposively selected. Standardized instruments: non-elastic anthropometric tape rule, stadiometre and weight scale were used for anthropometric and body composition measurement while Occupational Physical Activity Questionnaire (OPAQ; r = .72) was used to assess work-related physical activity. Pilot test was conducted to confirm calibration and functionality of body composition equipment. Informed consent was sought from the participants with ethical approval obtained from the Institutional board. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS V20.0 with descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation for analyses of body composition and physical activity while inferential statistics of PPMC and t-test were for analysis of hypotheses at a 0.05 alpha level.ResultsParticipants performed vigorous intensity occupational physical activity expending an average of 2,699.1 MET-min∙wk-1. Occupational physical activity negatively correlated with their body mass index (N = 45, r = -.06, r2 = .36%, p = .05); Waist circumference (N = 45, r = -.083, r2 = .69%, p = .05) and positively correlated with their bicep circumference (N = 45, r = .61, r2 = 37.2%, p = .001) and chest circumference (N = 45, r = .40, r2 = 16%, p = .007).ConclusionsBricklaying positively influenced body parameters which might induce health and fitness benefits. However, there is need for health promotion intervention for enlightenment and healthy life-style practice among bricklayers to improve overall health and fitness

Perception and practice of physical activity and exercise counselling in renal care team in Nigeria

Introduction. Physical activity (PA) in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) requires positive attitude and practice among the renal care team (RCT). The study examined the perceptions and practices of PA and exercise counselling among the RCT in Nigeria. Methods. The study is 24-item cross-sectional survey on exercise counselling practices on 281 renal care practitioners (females = 149, males = 132; mean age = 42 ±10 years; renal physicians (39%), nurses (50%), and others (11%)) at the 30th annual conference of NANCONF. Results. Forty two percent did not exercise regularly and 58% engaged in moderate-to-vigorous intensity. 92% agreed sedentary lifestyle is a health risk; 96% agreed that increasing PA is beneficial; and 81% reported that PA is beneficial for patients. 35% recommended PA; 17% referred patients to exercise professionals and 11% facilitated implementation of PA. Barriers to the implementation of PA were lack of motivated patients (75%), resources (69%), funds (66%), and motivated staff (63%). Conclusion. Perceptions and practices of PA and exercise counselling in the RCT in Nigeria is promising with inconsistencies between beliefs in the benefits of PA and actual implementation. Addressing the reported barriers could improve the recommendation of PA in patient's management

Movement and the African child: A practice going astray

Movement is life and the power for growth and development for healthy lifestyle.  Poor motion or inactivity is the basis for poor development in children and morbidity and mortality in adulthood. As children grow, it is expected that certain developmental dimensions such as physical, socio-emotional and cognitive will develop. These dimensions form a very important aspect of the human life and need to be nurtured to develop appropriately. One of the means through which these dimensions could be nurtured is through body movement involving locomotive and non-locomotive motions.  For proper development children need to be taken through conscious steps that will help their all-round development which primarily has been part of African communal settings for cultural integration and development.  Era of technology has brought several challenges facing the active lifestyle of African Children thereby predisposing them to sedentary living and its disease risks. Some of these include mass movement from rural setting to urban settlements, use of technology and also social media, fear of the environment and security issues amongst others. There is the need to appraise the cultural effect of technology on active lifestyle of African children and reactivate a balance between technology and re-integration of cultural mediums of training and development in children’s education. To promote adequate physical movement among children, curriculum should integrate healthy cultural/physical activities in the school, and parent should encourage their children to do domestic activities and reduce the use of electronic gadgets such as electronic games, TV and labour saving devices.

ICT Use and Physical Activity & Implication for Musculoskeletal Pains among Tertiary Institution Students in Kwara State Nigeria: 1027 Board #288 May 30 3 30 PM - 5 00 PM

PURPOSE: Recent studies show that prolonged ICT use is associated with increased sedentariness and postural imbalances. This has implication for the prevalence of musculoskeletal pains among ICT users. To investigate the implications of ICT use for physical activity level and musculoskeletal pains among tertiary institution students in Kwara state.METHODS: The research design was ex-post facto. Multistage sampling comprising stratified, purposive and simple random sampling was used to select 2,442 students with average age of 22.8 years from three tertiary institutions in Kwara state. The institutions consisted of federal, state and private. Validated (Rho = .71) ICT Use, Physical Activity and Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire (IUPAMP-Q) was used for data collection. ICT referred to mobile phones, tablets/i-pads, computers and television sets. Percentage and Mean were adopted for demographic descriptions, physical activity level and ICT use while hypotheses were tested with t-test and Multiple Regression at a 0.05 alpha level.RESULTS: The study revealed that only 56.4% (1,377) of the students performed the recommended physical activity. Mean physical activity level (PAL) of moderate ICT users was higher than excessive ICT users by 178.9METs/wk, which was statistically significant (N = 2426; t (2424) 6.227; p = .001). Majority reported musculoskeletal pain after continuous ICT use for at least 1hour; neck pain = 75.7% (1,836), shoulder pain = 59.9% (1,137) and back pain = 74.4% (1,805). ICT use positively correlated with musculoskeletal pains; it predicted 27% shoulder pain, 30% neck pain and 16% back pain (F(2,2421), 16.769; 18.475, 9.886; p = .001) respectively.CONCLUSIONS: use of ICT is a risk factor for musculoskeletal pain and mobile phone was the highest predicting factor. A collaborative effort within tertiary institution communities to inculcate physically active lifestyle and individualised structured ICT use is recommended

ICT Use and Physical Activity & Implication for Musculoskeletal Pains among Tertiary Institution Students in Kwara State Nigeria

PURPOSE: Recent studies show that prolonged ICT use is associated with increased sedentariness and postural imbalances. This has implication for the prevalence of musculoskeletal pains among ICT users. To investigate the implications of ICT use for physical activity level and musculoskeletal pains among tertiary institution students in Kwara state.METHODS: The research design was ex-post facto. Multistage sampling comprising stratified, purposive and simple random sampling was used to select 2,442 students with average age of 22.8 years from three tertiary institutions in Kwara state. The institutions consisted of federal, state and private. Validated (Rho = .71) ICT Use, Physical Activity and Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire (IUPAMP-Q) was used for data collection. ICT referred to mobile phones, tablets/i-pads, computers and television sets. Percentage and Mean were adopted for demographic descriptions, physical activity level and ICT use while hypotheses were tested with t-test and Multiple Regression at a 0.05 alpha level.RESULTS: The study revealed that only 56.4% (1,377) of the students performed the recommended physical activity. Mean physical activity level (PAL) of moderate ICT users was higher than excessive ICT users by 178.9METs/wk, which was statistically significant (N = 2426; t (2424) 6.227; p = .001). Majority reported musculoskeletal pain after continuous ICT use for at least 1hour; neck pain = 75.7% (1,836), shoulder pain = 59.9% (1,137) and back pain = 74.4% (1,805). ICT use positively correlated with musculoskeletal pains; it predicted 27% shoulder pain, 30% neck pain and 16% back pain (F(2,2421), 16.769; 18.475, 9.886; p = .001) respectively.CONCLUSIONS: use of ICT is a risk factor for musculoskeletal pain and mobile phone was the highest predicting factor. A collaborative effort within tertiary institution communities to inculcate physically active lifestyle and individualised structured ICT use is recommended