College undergraduate students’ self-rating of their physical activity involvement over a 7-day period

Purpose: To establish the college undergraduate students’ self-rated physical activity involvement over a 7-day period. Methodology: The study utilized the survey method using the International Physical Activity Short Version of the Questionnaire (IPAQ). The purpose of the questionnaires is to provide a common instrument that can be used to obtain internationally comparable data on health-related physical activity. The study was undertaken at a medium sized campus in the South Western part of U.S.A., with respondents drawn from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Results: A total of 220 students responded to the questionnaire. Most of the respondents, 182 (82.73%) commuted to campus; most, 128 (58.18%) were aged between 21 and 30; and the majority, 137 (62.27%) were females, 9 (4.09%) were freshmen, 39 (17.73%) sophomores, 114 (51.82%) juniors and 58 (26.36%) senior undergraduate students. Regarding the frequency of engaging in vigorous physical activity, the study established that 75 (34.09%) students did it less than two times a week, with 19 (8.64%) of them reporting zero involvement, 107 (48.64%) did between 3 to 5 days and 38 (17.27%) did it almost daily ie. more than six times a week. Regarding participation in moderate physical activity, 89 (40.45%) reported only for less than two days with 13 (5.91%) indicating zero participation; 96 (43.64%) reported participation between 3 to 5 days; and 35 (15.91%) did for more than six days a week. Students were also asked to indicate the number of days they managed to walk for at least 10 minutes at a time, and 47 (21.36%) indicated less than two times with 19 (8.64%) indicating no time at all; 66 (30%) indicated 3 to 5 days and 107 (48.64%) indicated doing it more than six times a week. Conclusions: Overall, the majority of the respondents regularly engaged in walking, moderate and vigorous physical activity on most days of the week. One limitation of this study is the fact that the data was self-reported by the participants. Self-reporting could entail either under-reporting or exaggerating. Additionally, there is need to study a more diverse student population drawn from multiple institutions and where possible drawn from different states and countries

The extent of dietary supplements use by male rugby players in Kenya

Objective: Dietary or nutritional supplements are substances which act either nutritionally to reverse or prevent deficiency or pharmacologically, to alter some physiological processes. The purpose of the present study was to determine the extent of knowledge, consumption levels and identify factors or reasons that influenced the utilization of dietary supplements by male rugby players in Kenya. Methodology and results: The study adopted the descriptive survey design. The target population was 210 players from seven teams that participated in the Kenya Cup League. Simple random sampling was used to select 140 (67%) respondents out of the target population of 210. Percentages were used to describe the players’ knowledge levels. Generally, rugby players had moderate knowledge about the dietary supplements. This was rated at 44.9% for creatine monohydrate, antioxidants - 11.3%, multivitamins – 44.2%, glutamine – 14%, whey protein – 37.3% and Zinc Magnesium Aspartate (ZMA) -8.6%. The consumption levels (15.1% took and 53.8% never took) were low. Hypothesis testing confirmed that there was significant difference (p\u3c0.005) between the variables (age, academic qualification, occupation, experience and club affiliation) and the reasons for taking dietary supplements as well as the consumption patterns by the male rugby players Conclusion and application of findings: There were definitely low levels of use of dietary supplements among rugby players. The Kenya Rugby Football Union should organize clinics, courses and seminars for rugby coaches and teachers regarding dietary supplementation and its role in enhancing the nutritional status of the players. Further research should be conducted on the use of other dietary supplements and their effect on performance

Students\u27 perspectives on online and face-to-face components of a blended course design in Health and Kinesiology at a South Western Public University in the USA

Introduction: The current higher education environment in the United States of America (USA) and worldwide is focused on providing people an opportunity to access a quality education at a competitive price and one that is flexible enough to meet the needs of a diverse student demographic. It is therefore necessary for course delivery methods to accommodate these diverse needs without sacrificing rigor necessary for accreditation due to the diverse backgrounds, occupations, and time constraints of students in today’s environment Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the students’ perception of the online and face-to-face components of a blended course design at a South Western Public University in the USA. Methods and material: The sample of this study consisted of 200 students drawn from four different blended courses in the Department of Health and Kinesiology at a medium sized public university in South West of USA. A modified questionnaire from Sitter et al., (2009) with 19 questions was used to collect responses from students. The survey instrument employed a 5-point Likert scale ranging from strongly agree (5), to strongly disagree (1). Results: Majority of the students have a positive view of the blended learning including the online and face-to-face components. A consistent minority of the students expressed disagreement especially pertaining to technology-based communication, preferred mode of delivery, online discussion participation and grade scores. Discussion: Although the majority of students perceived blended learning and its components positively, there is need for instructors to address the communication, technology, and online learning facilitation challenges if all learners are to learn effectively. Conclusions and recommendations: It is clear that the majority of students are ready and have accepted blended learning course designs at this medium sized public university in south west of the United States of America and therefore there is room for expansion of the initiative to benefit more students

Students’ perspectives on online and face-to-face components of a blended course design in Health and Kinesiology at a South Western Public University in the USA

Introduction: The current higher education environment in the United States of America (USA) and worldwide is focused on providing people an opportunity to access a quality education at a competitive price and one that is flexible enough to meet the needs of a diverse student demographic. It is therefore necessary for course delivery methods to accommodate these diverse needs without sacrificing rigor necessary for accreditation due to the diverse backgrounds, occupations, and time constraints of students in today’s environmentPurpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the students’ perception of the online and face-to-face components of a blended course design at a South Western Public University in the USA.Methods and material: The sample of this study consisted of 200 students drawn from four different blended courses in the Department of health and Kinesiology at a medium sized public university in South West of USA. A modified questionnaire from Sitter et al., (2009) with 19 questions was used to collect responses from students. The survey instrument employed a 5-point Likert scale ranging from strongly agree (5), to strongly disagree (1). Results: Majority of the students have a positive view of the blended learning including the online and face-to-face components. A consistent minority of the students expressed disagreement especially pertaining to technology-based communication, preferred mode of delivery, online discussion participation and grade scores.Discussion: Although the majority of students perceived blended learning and its components positively, there is need for instructors to address the communication, technology, and online learning facilitation challenges if all learners are to learn effectively.Conclusions and recommendations: It is clear that the majority of students are ready and have accepted blended learning course designs at this medium sized public university in south west of the United States of America and therefore there is room for expansion of the initiative to benefit more students

Walkability in upper east Texas cities and implications for physical activity and health

Introduction: Physical activity is an important intervention strategy against the increasing cases of overweight and obesity in the USA and many other parts of the world. Walking has been identified as a component of physical activity that can easily be incorporated into one’s lifestyle. Recent studies on physical activity have focused on promoting walking as a health enhancing endeavor. Purpose: This study examined the walkability of the environments in 57 cities drawn from 22different counties in upper east Texas within the USA. Methods and materials: The data for all the 57 key cities in upper east Texas were collected from the Walkscore.com. Results: It was established that 13 (22.8%) of the cities had walkable scores below 24%; 26 (45.6%) had between 25 and 49; 13 (22.8%) between 51 and 69; 4 (7%) had between 70 and 89, and onlyone city had a score of 91. Discussion: The vast majority of cities (39, 68.42%) had walkable scores that show a high dependability on vehicle transport; with only 5 (8.8%) cities being rated as very walkable or a walker’s paradise. This reflects a high dependence on vehicles in the upper east Texas region and therefore minimal walking. Recommendations: There is need to actively pursue an agenda that promotes infrastructural investments that can bring about ease of walking and accessibility of community services at close range. Stakeholders need to collectively come together to generate interventions that can enhance the well-being of the residents in of upper east Texas

Walkable scores for selected three east Texas counties: physical activity and policy implications

Introduction: Physical activity has become an important intervention against overweight and obesity cases in the USA and worldwide. One key aspect of physical activity is walking, which has been identified as a component that can easily be incorporated into one’s lifestyle. Recent studies on physical activity have focused on promoting walking as a health enhancing endeavor. In 2010, the proportion of Texas adults who reported no participation in leisure time activity (26.7%) was significantly higher than the national average (24.4%). However, many Texans, like most Americans, are sedentary. Purpose: This study examined the walkability of the environments in selected counties in east Texas including Wood, Van Zandt and Smith counties. Methods and material: The data was drawn from the Walkscore.com and was based on all the zip codes in the three counties in east Texas. The community capitals were used a framework for analysis. Results: Only three (8.82%) zip codes had walkable scores between 70 and 89; five (14.71%) had scores between 50 and 69; four (11.76%) between 25 and 49 and 22 (64.71%) had a score below 24. Discussion: The vast majority (26, 76.47%) of zip codes are highly dependent on vehicle transport. Conclusions and recommendations: Stakeholders need therefore to focus on causes for the minimal walkability so that practical interventions are generated to enhance the physical activity friendly infrastructure so as to enhance the well-being of the residents in these three east Texas counties

Participatory mapping for transformation: multiple visual representation of foodscapes and environment in informal settlements in Nairobi

Although branded as ‘obstructionists’ and major agents of ‘disease and filth’ by city authorities, food vendors remain the pivotal node in the local food system in most informal settlements; therefore, their interaction with the environment and infrastructure services, and challenges they face to keep the food safe to eat, requires further grounded exploration. Food vendors from informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya, who are acting as mappers and change agents, are building multi-layered views of places through the deliberative process of knowledge coproduction by participatory sensing, which lead to opportunities and challenges to improve those places

The status and future of emergency care in the Republic of Kenya

Kenya is a rapidly developing country with a growing economy and evolving health care system. In the decade since the last publication on the state of emergency care in Kenya, significant developments have occurred in the country\u27s approach to emergency care. Importantly, the country decentralized most health care functions to county governments in 2013. Despite the triple burden of traumatic, communicable, and non-communicable diseases, the structure of the health care system in the Republic of Kenya is evolving to adapt to the important role for the care of emergent medical conditions. This report provides a ten-year interval update on the current state of the development of emergency medical care and training in Kenya, and looks ahead towards areas for growth and development. Of particular focus is the role emergency care plays in Universal Health Coverage, and adapting to challenges from the devolution of health care

Improving decision making in schools through teacher participation

The hierarchical structure that places head teachers at the apex of a pyramid of staff is a common feature in secondary schools in Kenya. In this arrangement, school heads are poised to use their superior knowledge and experience to direct and control the working of the entire school. This negatively affects efficiency and productivity of the schools because teachers work at half steam because they are not effectively involved in decision making to make them feel as part of the schools. Owing to the dynamics of professionalism and diversity of ideas in secondary schools occasioned by staffing schools with professionally trained teachers and the need to decentralize decision making to the lower levels, the hierarchical structure in management of schools is challenged. On many occasions head-teachers have been advised to involve teachers in decision making as a way of motivating them and to create a feeling of belonging. This study was designed to investigate the extent to which teachers were involved in decision making in comparison to their desired extent of participation. An ex-post facto study was designed. One hundred and twenty three teachers responded to the participatory decision making questionnaire. Data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. It was found that teachers desired greater involvement in decision making than they were currently involved. It was recommended that school managers should increase the extent to which they involve teachers in decision making to improve on the quality of decisions and boost their morale in their performance of duty