Anthropometric profile of elite women’s volleyball players in the Philippines

The purpose of this study is to determine the anthropometric profile of elite women’s volleyball players in the Philippines. Thirty-six (n=36) subjects with a mean age of 23.9 + 3 years participated in this study and were measured by ISAK-certified anthropometrics. Results showed that elite Filipino women’s volleyball players are relatively taller and heavier than average Filipino females but smaller and lighter than most internationally-successful women’s volleyball teams. They are in the athletic body fat percentage range with a somatotype of endomorph-mesomorph on average. Middle blockers are tall, thin and lean with a mean central somatotype with lengthy extremities. Outside hitters and opposite spikers are relatively tall, lengthy, and muscular with a mean endomorph-mesomorph somatotype. Liberos are shorter and lighter overall with low body fat and a generally endomorphic mesomorph somatotype. Setters are relatively shorter, heavier and larger with higher body fat and an endomorph-mesomorph somatotype on average. Various similarities and differences with related studies are also discussed

Socio-economic factors associated with the purchasing of insecticide-treated nets in Afghanistan and their implications for social marketing.

Malaria is often a major health problem in war-torn countries in the tropics owing to the collapse of health services and the vulnerability of displaced populations to epidemics. Insecticide-treated nets (ITN) represent one of the few options for obtaining protection against malaria in unstable settings deficient in health infrastructure. Social marketing of subsidized ITN by a consortium of non-governmental organizations began in Afghanistan in 1993 and has continued every year since then despite regular political turmoil. Almost 350,000 nets have been sold and approximately 1.2 million people protected. In 2000 we examined the determinants of ITN purchasing among households in Nangarhar province, eastern Afghanistan, as part of an effort to increase ITN uptake. The survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire to collect data on socio-economic characteristics and malaria beliefs and practices among more than 400 net-owning and non-net-owning households. A composite socio-economic index was created using principal components analysis, and survey households were divided into socio-economic quartiles. ITN were 4.5 times more likely to be purchased by families from the richest quartile and 2.3 times more likely to be purchased from the upper-middle quartile than from the two lower quartiles. Even so, a significant minority from the lower quartiles did prioritize and buy ITN. In conflict affected countries where livelihoods are compromised, it is necessary to target subsidies at the most impoverished to make ITN affordable and to improve overall coverage