Correlation between growth and physical fitness of socially disadvantaged girls

The intention of this study was to investigate the relationship between growth and physical fitness of girls between the ages seven and 18. The girls (N=302) were randomly selected from six randomly selected schools in an informal settlement in the Western Cape. Twenty anthropometric measurements were taken on each participant. Some of the measurements included heights, girths, skinfolds and breadths. Skinfold measurements were further used to calculate body composition and somatotypes. The following physical fitness components were included for assessment: flexibility (sit-and-reach test); grip strength (hand grip dynamometer); leg power (standing long-jump); speed (50m-sprint test); and cardiovascular endurance (three-minute step test). The relationship between growth and fitness characteristics was determined by means of a stepwise discriminant analysis. The participants were divided into 'under 13' and '13 and older' groups and were used to establish differences in the relationships between growth and fitness. The analysis showed the prominence of weight and height as predictors of fitness parameters, especially strength, speed and leg power.DHE

Individuals with traumatic brain injuries perceptions and experiences of returning to work in South Africa

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the central concepts of a model that would facilitate the return to work process of individuals with brain injury. However for the purpose of this paper there will be a focus only on the barriers and facilitators that influence the return to work process. Participants: Ten individuals who were diagnosed with a mild to moderate brain injury participated in this study. Methods: Qualitative research methods were used in order to explore the research question. The participants were selected by means of purposive sampling and the data was collected by means of in depth interviews. Results: The results of the study revealed that the participants experienced a sense of loss of function after the brain injury, a fear of the future and loss of confidence in their worker roles. The participants also indicated that by means of adapting occupational routines and actively engaging in rehabilitation they developed confidence in their worker roles. Conclusion: Occupational therapists have to use a client centred holistic work integrative approach in order to successfully rehabilitate as well as facilitate the return to work process with people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury.IS

Relationship among fitness, morphological characteristics, skills and performance in men's fast-pitch softball

Men's fast pitch softball does not have a specific battery of tests and relies on the tests and norms of baseball. The specific morphological and fitness demands of the sport are, therefore, not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to establish whether morphological and fitness characteristics are related to skill and performance measures in men's fast-pitch softball players. The sample was purposively selected and consisted of 15 provincial and 15 club male players. Anthropometric, fitness and skills test were conducted. Match statistics were obtained from the provincial softball federation for the provincial players and from the club for its members. Data were analysed and interpreted both collectively as a group and separately as teams for the purpose of comparison. The results identified a number of strong significant relationships between the different variables tested. Stature and percentage body fat were found to interact significantly with the two key performance areas, batting and base running. The findings convincingly suggest that coaches should include fitness, morphological and skills tests in their coaching and fitness programmes, team selection and talent identification processes.IS

Socio-economic status and menarcheal age in urban african schoolgirls in the western cape, South Africa

The impact of different socio-economic levels, height, weight and sum of four skinfolds on the menarcheal age of 302 Black, South African school girls ranging in age from 8 to 17 years was researched. Socioeconomic status was obtained by means of a questionnaire that focused on the education, income, and occupations of the parents of the participants and the accommodation in which they were reared. Menarcheal age was obtained by means of a questionnaire. When restricted to those girls who had reached menarche, the mean age was found to be 14.34 years (SD=0.93). The application of survival analysis revealed an estimated median age of 14.25 years with a 95% confidence interval estimate of 14.08 and 14.58. Based on the log-rank statistic, significant differences were found in the survival curves of the different SES categories (p=0.0098). It was found that lower SES corresponded to curves having longer survival times, i.e. later ages of menarche. Differences were found in weight (p=0.037) and in height (p=0.0042), but no difference in SUM4 (p=0.44), between girls who have reached menarche and those who have not.DHE

Research capacity development in a South African higher education institution through a north-south collaboration

One of the constraints that prevent higher education institutions (HEIs) in developing countries from engaging in effective and essential research is a lack of research capacity. This study reports on a north-south collaboration between a group of Flemish universities and an HEI in South Africa with the specific goal of improving productivity, quality and capacity amongst researchers. A collaborative project with multiple subprojects was established in 2003, and extended over two consecutive five-year phases. Document analysis was conducted of annual reports, monitoring and evaluation reports, curriculum vitae of participating members, and progress reports of students and supervisors during this time. The findings of the study illustrate the extent to which research capacity objectives can be achieved through a north-south partnership. Members of the collaboration were able to develop intra- and inter-disciplinary partnerships that resulted in maximising the capacity- building efforts, enhancing both individual and institutional research --capacity--.DHE

Physical activity, including active commuting, and health status of rural school children in South Africa

Physical activity is considered a key preventative measure for various diseases, such as diabetes and cardio-vascular disorders. The majority of South Africans studied in various regional cross sectional surveys, suggest that most young people fail to meet recommended minimum physical activity standards. The main objective of this study was to ascertain the physical activity patterns and health status of rural schoolchildren. A comparative and correlational cross-sectional study design was used to assess the physical activity levels and health status of 162 rural schoolchildren. The participation levels in light and moderate to vigorous physical activity were 44.6% and 55.4% respectively. Walking to and from school was the most prevalent physical activity reported. Thirty-eight percent (38%) of the children were hypertensive. More than 50% of the children participated in health-enhancing physical activity. The low physical inactivity prevalence was most likely a result of their habitual activity patterns, which included active commuting to and from school.Keywords: Physical activity; Active commuting; Walking; Rural schoolchildren; Health statu

Sport for development. African international university Initiative (s.f.d-a.i.u.i.) justification and basic assumptions of a sport and development study programme in Southern Africa

This paper gives the vision of the initiators of the programme on the two basic elements of the title: 'Sport for Development' and 'African International Interuniversity Initiative'. This vision is already partly put in concrete actions, however partly still under discussion between the interested partner universities. The explicit formulation and justification of the basic assumptions may help to find in an open discussion a creative solution for all challenges that may slow down or impoverish the realisation of the initiative

Intravenous NPA for the treatment of infarcting myocardium early: InTIME-II, a double-blind comparison on of single-bolus lanoteplase vs accelerated alteplase for the treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction

Aims to compare the efficacy and safety of lanoteplase, a single-bolus thrombolytic drug derived from alteplase tissue plasminogen activator, with the established accelerated alteplase regimen in patients presenting within 6 h of onset of ST elevation acute myocardial infarction. Methods and Results 15 078 patients were recruited from 855 hospitals worldwide and randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive either lanoteplase 120 KU. kg-1 as a single intravenous bolus, or up to 100 mg accelerated alteplase given over 90 min. The primary end-point was all-cause mortality at 30 days and the hypothesis was that the two treatments would be equivalent. By 30 days, 6.61% of alteplase-treated patients and 6.75% lanoteplase-treated patients had died (relative risk 1.02). Total stroke occurred in 1.53% alteplase- and 1.87% lanoteplase-treated patients (ns); haemorrhagic stroke rates were 0.64% alteplase and 1.12% lanoteplase (P=0.004). The net clinical deficit of 30-day death or non-fatal disabling stroke was 7.0% and 7.2%, respectively. By 6 months, 8.8% of alteplase-treated patients and 8.7% of lanoteplase-treated patients had died. Conclusion Single-bolus weight-adjusted lanoteplase is an effective thrombolytic agent, equivalent to alteplase in terms of its impact on survival and with a comparable risk-benefit profile. The single-bolus regimen should shorten symptoms to treatment times and be especially convenient for emergency department or out-of-hospital administration. (C) 2000 The European Society of Cardiology