Lifestyle Transition towards Sedentary Behavior among Children and Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Narrative Review

Worldwide lifestyles are changing with the fastest transition being witnessed in lower-income countries, especially in developing countries like Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). An influx of easily acquired labor saving screen-based gadgets in many homes has affected many lives. This phenomenon is widespread affecting urban and rural affluent households with income deprived communities playing quick ‘catch up’ in the belief that this is a sign of prestige. This has led to prolonged sitting hours and excessive screen-based sedentary time especially among children. The high crime rate in urban settings has forced more parents to keep children indoors and “keep them busy” with screen gadgets. Children and youths are vulnerable and easily influenced and habits formed in childhood are seen to be carried forward into adulthood. This chapter highlights the increased sedentary lifestyle of the unique SSA population, whose unique cultural and socioeconomic factors gave them very active lifestyles previously. The plight of children and youth as vulnerable groups; and the resulting effects of sedentary screen-based activities have been discussed. Ongoing monitoring and surveillance of sedentary behavior and time among children and youth in SSA for policy development and strategic intervention is strongly advised

Outdoor Adventure Practice in Kenya: Injuries, Illnesses, Non-Medical Concerns, and Evacuation Profiles on Mt. Kenya

Background: Outdoor adventure is inevitably linked to risks that lead to injuries, psychological distress, illnesses, and even fatalities. Gathering detailed information on such occurrences and their contributing factors is a valuable component of risk management in outdoor programs. This study investigated the occurrence of injuries, illnesses, evacuation profiles, non-medical concerns, and near-miss events in outdoor adventure practice in Kenya. Methods: A mixed-methods approach involving quantitative and qualitative methods was used to collect data from 136 outdoor adventure practitioners in Kenya. Questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and desk reviews were employed to collect data. Results: The majority of injuries and illnesses occur during mountaineering (39%) and hiking and navigation (25.7%) events. The most reported incidents were mountain sickness (25%) and musculoskeletal injuries consisting of fractures (30%), cuts and wounds (14.7%), blisters (12.5%), sprains and dislocations (12.5%), and muscle strains and pulls (8.8%). Out of the 128 reported evacuation incidences on Mt. Kenya, 95 were due to mountain sickness and10 due to falls. Combined age and sex of the climbers and the location/altitude on the mountain are predictors of the occurrence and the type of injury/illness on the mountain (x2 (10, n = 128) = 63.32, P \u3c 0.001). However, only altitude significantly contributes to the model (P \u3c 0.001). Reported near-miss incidences included flash floods, aggressive encounter with wildlife, getting lost for extended period, near falls and slips, and rolling-rock falls. Non-medical concerns reported included extreme anxiety, intoxication from drug and alcohol use, confrontation and fights, and disorientation. Conclusions: There is evident incidence of injuries and illnesses of varying severity, with age, sex, and altitude reached being key predicting factors. Mitigating efforts and preventive measures should be employed as well as risk assessment and management to promote safety. The findings are vital to advise policy and practice and enhance awareness among practitioners and interested parties in Kenya and also in other destinations with similar conditions, terrains, and challenges

Comparative study of physical activity patterns among school children in Kenya and Canada: Results from the ISCOLE Project

Abstract Examination of the timing and patterns of daily activity are crucial in understanding when children accumulate the highest levels of physical activity. The objectives of this study were to examine moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) patterns accrued by time of day among Kenyan children, and compare activity patterns in Kenya to those of Canadian children. Physical activity and body weights of participating children were measured by accelerometry and anthropometry, while supplementary self-report data were captured by questionnaires. Data were collected as part of a larger International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and Environment (ISCOLE) in Nairobi for ISCOLE-Kenya and in the Ottawa Region for ISCOLE-Canada. A total of 555 Kenyan and 541 Canadian children 9 to 11 years were included in the analyses. In Kenya, boys, under/healthy weight, and children attending public (lower socioeconomic status (SES)) schools were found to have significantly higher MVPA levels compared to girls, overweight/obese, and children attending private (higher SES) schools respectively. MVPA on weekdays was higher than on weekend-days. Activity profiles among Kenyan and Canadian children were very similar; however, Kenyan children had significantly higher MVPA and lower sedentary time on weekend-days. MVPA patterns among urban Kenyan children were largely similar to those of urban Canadian children when assessed by sex, BMI category, and weekday/weekend days. However, in the Kenyan sample, unlike in many higher income countries, lower SES was associated with higher MVPA

Vitamin D3 Deficiency: The Missing Component in the Physical Activity and Lifelong Health of Children and Adolescents in Sub-Sahara Africa?

Urbanization in Africa has led to lifestyles changes that undermine physical activity. These behavioral changes are also linked to spending less time in the Sun. Vitamin D is primarily synthesized dermally when sun rays directly strikes exposed skin. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is now recognized as a global issue impairing the health of more than 1 billion people Worldwide. Serum Vitamin D levels in children in Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) has been linked to inadequate exposure to sunlight, despite it straddling the equator that affords almost yearlong overhead sunshine. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with several health challenges, which in turn undermines normal growth, development, and potential physical and mental function likely to compromise performance of physical activity and sports. This chapter highlights the role of Vitamin D, its deficiency and implications on physical activity and sports performance with particular focus on children and adolescents, who are at a prime age for foundational development of motor function, skills and performance. While parents, healthcare professionals, coaches and caregivers of children in SSA need to promote sun exposure as the primary source of vitamin D, this perhaps also calls for further attention on Vitamin D supplementation, to support health and sports performance

Inclusive Physical Education During the University Preparation Programme in Ghana: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice

Hands-on experience plays a key role in every teacher education programme as it helps the prospective teacher to experience a real world of teaching rather than in abstract. One of the most difficult aspects of inclusive teacher education programmes is capacitating pre-service teachers to practice inclusion in the classroom in real live conditions. This study aimed at evaluating student-teachers’ hands-on experiences in inclusive practical PE lessons during their university preparation programme using sequential mixed-method design. 152 PE student-teachers’ in level 300 from the two universities who train PE teachers in Ghana were purposively sampled for this study. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires while qualitative data was collected through focus group discussion with 20 of the same participants. Quantitative data were analysed using means and standard deviation and presented in tables. Inferential statistics of independent t-test was used to ascertain the mean difference between student-teachers’ hands-on experiences. Qualitative data were transcribed verbatim with trustworthiness assured through peer debriefing and member checking. Both quantitative and qualitative results showed that the university preparation programme has no practical component for inclusion in PE. Student-teachers’ hands-on teaching experience in inclusive practical PE was found to be inadequate. However, a significant difference (t (-4.020) at df (32.9), p< .005) was found between the two institutions.  The study concludes that the preparation programme in the universities does not give student-teachers’ adequate inclusive practical exposure. To make inclusion experience more viable to student-teachers’, it is recommended that inclusive experiences should be incorporated into student-teachers’ on-campus teaching practice and all practical courses to help bridge the gap between theory and practice

Inclusive Physical Education During the University Preparation Programme in Ghana: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice

Hands-on experience plays a key role in every teacher education programme as it helps the prospective teacher to experience a real world of teaching rather than in abstract. One of the most difficult aspects of inclusive teacher education programmes is capacitating pre-service teachers to practice inclusion in the classroom in real live conditions. This study aimed at evaluating student-teachers’ hands-on experiences in inclusive practical PE lessons during their university preparation programme using sequential mixed-method design. 152 PE student-teachers’ in level 300 from the two universities who train PE teachers in Ghana were purposively sampled for this study. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires while qualitative data was collected through focus group discussion with 20 of the same participants. Quantitative data were analysed using means and standard deviation and presented in tables. Inferential statistics of independent t-test was used to ascertain the mean difference between student-teachers’ hands-on experiences. Qualitative data were transcribed verbatim with trustworthiness assured through peer debriefing and member checking. Both quantitative and qualitative results showed that the university preparation programme has no practical component for inclusion in PE. Student-teachers’ hands-on teaching experience in inclusive practical PE was found to be inadequate. However, a significant difference (t (-4.020) at df (32.9), p&lt; .005) was found between the two institutions.&nbsp; The study concludes that the preparation programme in the universities does not give student-teachers’ adequate inclusive practical exposure. To make inclusion experience more viable to student-teachers’, it is recommended that inclusive experiences should be incorporated into student-teachers’ on-campus teaching practice and all practical courses to help bridge the gap between theory and practice

Occurrence of fatalities in mountaineering: The case of Mt. Kenya

A fatality is the most detrimental incident that can occur in mountaineering. It is important to study previous cases and learn from circumstances surrounding fatal incidences in programmes sharing some common elements. This paper is set to investigate the occurrences of fatal incidences in mountaineering, the case of Mt. Kenya. It captures the qualitative findings on fatality occurrences. Respondents consisted of porters, guides, instructors, facilitators and key stakeholders involved in outdoor adventure activities on Mt. Kenya. The study used snowballing approach to identify the participants. Focus group discussions involving 52 respondents were conducted, in-depth interviews took place with four key informants and additional records were sought through desk reviews. The study found out that occurrence of fatalities was not well documented in a structured database. Deep grieving and regrets were noted. Predisposing factors leading to fatalities during mountaineering included; The “I MUST summit mentality”, lack of proper acclimatization, lack of visitor education, and lack of early diagnosis of altitude sicknesses. With the inherent risks and dangers that lead to fatalities in the mountaineering industry, the study recommends the need for providers to be keen on risk assessment and management as well as develop response strategies for various eventualities

Correlates of objectively measured overweight/obesity and physical activity in Kenyan school children: results from ISCOLE-Kenya

Abstract Background Childhood overweight/obesity and inadequate physical activity burden Western countries, and now, pose a growing threat to the health of children in low and middle income countries. Behavioural transitions toward more sedentary lifestyles coupled with increased consumption of high calorie foods has resulted in rising proportions of overweight/obesity and decreasing levels of physical activity in school-aged children. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and to investigate factors associated with overweight/obesity and physical activity in Kenyan children aged 9 to 11 years. Methods Body composition and physical activity measures of participating children were accomplished by anthropometric assessment, accelerometry, and administration of questionnaires related to diet and lifestyle, and the school and neighbourhood environments. Data collection was conducted in the city of Nairobi as part of a larger International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and Environment. Results A total of 563 participants (46.5% boys, 53.5% girls) were included in the analyses. Of these, 3.7% were underweight, 14.4% were overweight, and 6.4% were obese based on WHO cut-points. Mean daily sedentary time was 398 minutes, time spent in light physical activity was 463 minutes, and time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was 36 minutes based on activity cut-points developed by Treuth et al. Only 12.6% of participating children were meeting the recommendation of ≥ 60 minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and 45.7% of participants used active transportation to/from school. Increasing parental education level, total annual household income, and attending a private rather than public school were associated positively with being overweight/obese and negatively with meeting physical activity guidelines. Conclusions This study provided the evidence for an existing prevalence of childhood overweight/obesity in Nairobi. Children were spending a considerable amount of time in sedentary and light intensity physical activity, with few meeting physical activity guidelines. Higher socioeconomic status and parental education attainment were associated with a higher likelihood of children being overweight/obese and a lower likelihood of children meeting the physical activity recommendations. Interventions and strategies should be attentive to the potential health consequences of lifestyle transitions resulting from urbanisation and economic prosperity

Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of accelerometer measured physical activity levels of school-going children in Kampala city, Uganda.

BackgroundThe current international physical activity guidelines for health recommend children to engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) daily. Yet, accurate prevalence estimates of physical activity levels of children are unavailable in many African countries due to the dearth of accelerometer-measured physical activity data. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and examine the socio-demographic correlates of accelerometer-measured physical activity among school-going children in Kampala city, Uganda.MethodsA cross-sectional study design was used to recruit a sample of 10-12 years old school-going children (n = 256) from 7 primary schools (3 public schools and 4 private schools) in Kampala city, Uganda. Sedentary time, light-intensity physical activity (LPA), moderate-intensity physical activity (MPA) and vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA) were measured by accelerometers (ActiGraph GT3X+ [Pensacola, Florida, USA]) over a seven-day period. Socio-demographic factors were assessed by a parent/guardian questionnaire. Weight status was generated from objectively measured height and weight and computed as body mass index (BMI). Multi-level logistic regressions identified socio-demographic factors that were associated with meeting physical activity guidelines.ResultsChildren's sedentary time was 9.8±2.1 hours/day and MVPA was 56±25.7 minutes/day. Only 36.3% of the children (38.9% boys, 34.3% girls) met the physical activity guidelines. Boys, thin/normal weight and public school children had significantly higher mean daily MVPA levels. Socio-demographic factors associated with odds of meeting physical activity guidelines were younger age (OR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.55-0.84), thin/normal weight status (OR = 4.08; 95% CI = 1.42-11.76), and socioeconomic status (SES) indicators such as lower maternal level of education (OR = 2.43; 95% CI = 1.84-3.21) and no family car (OR = 0.31; 95% CI = 0.17-0.55).ConclusionChildren spent a substantial amount of time sedentary and in LPA and less time in MVPA. Few children met the physical activity guidelines. Lower weight status, lower maternal education level and no family car were associated with meeting physical activity guidelines. Effective interventions and policies to increase physical activity among school-going children in Kampala, are urgently needed