Global Matrix 4.0 Physical Activity Report Card Grades for Children and Adolescents: Results and Analyses From 57 Countries

Background: The Global Matrix 4.0 on physical activity (PA) for children and adolescents was developed to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the global variation in children’s and adolescents’ (5–17 y) PA, related measures, and key sources of influence. The objectives of this article were (1) to summarize the findings from the Global Matrix 4.0 Report Cards, (2) to compare indicators across countries, and (3) to explore trends related to the Human Development Index and geo-cultural regions. Methods: A total of 57 Report Card teams followed a harmonized process to grade the 10 common PA indicators. An online survey was conducted to collect Report Card Leaders’ top 3 priorities for each PA indicator and their opinions on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted child and adolescent PA indicators in their country. Results: Overall Physical Activity was the indicator with the lowest global average grade (D), while School and Community and Environment were the indicators with the highest global average grade (C+). An overview of the global situation in terms of surveillance and prevalence is provided for all 10 common PA indicators, followed by priorities and examples to support the development of strategies and policies internationally. Conclusions: The Global Matrix 4.0 represents the largest compilation of children’s and adolescents’ PA indicators to date. While variation in data sources informing the grades across countries was observed, this initiative highlighted low PA levels in children and adolescents globally. Measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, local/international conflicts, climate change, and economic change threaten to worsen this situation

PERCEPTIONS ABOUT MALARIA TRANSMISSION AND CONTROL USING ANTI-MALARIA PLANTS IN MOLA, KARIBA, ZIMBABWE

An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Mola, Kariba district, in order to collect information on some common herbal remedies used by traditional healers and rural folk in the treatment and prevention of malaria. Structured questionnaires were administered to 220 respondents in Mola, Kariba. Two hundred and twenty questionnaires were administered to respondents who were between the ages of 14 andd 80 years. There were 88 (40%) males and 132 (60%) females with mean ages of 41.0682+17.4572 and 41.5000 + 18.7028 for males and females respectively. A total of 192 (87.3%) of the respondents mentioned mosquitoes as transmitting malaria, one (0.3%) mentioned dirty water and 27 (12.4%) did not know. Fifty-four (24.5%) respondents did not know signs and symptoms of malaria. High body temperature, headache and shivering (23.2%) were major signs used in diagnosing malaria. A total of 155 (70.5%) respondents would go to the clinic if they suspect that they have malaria and 36 (16.4%) will visit a Traditional Healer. The following plants were mentioned as being used as anti—malarials: Carica papaya L. (Caricaceae), Zea mays L. (Sapindaceae), Amblygonocarpus andongenis (Olvi.) Exell and Torre (Leguminosae), Zanha africana (Radlk.) Exell (Sapindaceae), Solanum incanum L. (Solananceae), Solanum indicum L. (Solanaceae), Solanum panduriforme E. May (Solanaceae), Diplorhynchus condylocarpon (Muell. Arg.) Pick. (Apocynaceae), Harungana madagascariensis Poir (Guittiferae), Pterocarpus angolensis DC (Leguminosae), Euclea divinorum Hiern (Ebenaceae), Sclerocarya caffra Sond (Anacardiaceae), Terminalia sericea DC (Combretaceae), Aloe chabaudii Schonl. (Liliaceae), Aloe excelsa Berg. (Liliaceae), Aloe greatheardii Schoni (Liliaceae), Colophospermum mopane (Benth.) J. Leonard (Leguminosae) and Garcinia huillensis Oliv. (Guttiferae). In clonclusion, several plants used as anti-malarials were identified and their acivity will be determined. Key Words: Malaria, Zimbabwe, Antimalarial plants Nig. J. Nat Prod. And Med. Vol.5 2001: 4-