African Journal for Physical Activity and Health Sciences (AJPHES) - latest Issue

Hosting of mega sporting events, despite being capital intensive, is commonly perceived to be associated with socio-economic development, especially in the areas of job creation, infrastructural upgrade and tourism. However, whilst the socioeconomic projections and actual impact of major sport events on host countries is debatable, the legacy of hosting international sport is amenable to post-event appraisals. A case in point is South Africa’s landmark hosting of the 2010 FIFA world Cup. The lead paper in this issue of AJPHES by Mosime looks at the contributions of world cup stadiums to the 2010 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup legacy.

In the sport environment, a mega-event such as the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup, encompasses major costs for the hosts. High demands are signified for all organising stakeholders to ensure successful implementation. Despite the excessive costs associated with hosting the FIFA World Cup, bidding for the event, remains highly competitive. It is still considered a valuable catalyst for delivering long lasting positive impacts and legacy benefits. Analyses indicate that new stadiums are often built to host these events, requiring longterm planning and sustainable use to ensure successful operations. Problematically, stadiums succumbing the challenges of operational and maintenance costs, are referred to as ‘white elephants’. After the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the hosting local municipalities in South Africa, encountered challenges. These challenges involved ensuring that stadiums remain sustainable after the event and that the maintenance costs of these facilities are reimbursed. Although literature focusses on various types of legacies from the FIFA World Cup, few studies explore the post-event functions of world cup stadiums, particularly from local municipality facility managers’ perspectives. The views and perceptions of local municipality facility managers in the post-event context, offer valuable insight and understanding into world cup stadiums as legacy contributors. The aim of this study is to determine the local municipality facility managers’ perceptions of the functions of the 2010 FIFA World Cup stadiums as contributors to the legacy of the tournament. A qualitative approach was adopted, using semi-structured interviews to gain in-depth perceptions from local municipality facility managers. A standardised interview schedule was developed (based on four themes), derived from the aims and objectives of the study. The data were analysed through thematic analyses. The results were presented according to the themes. The findings reveal that participants perceived a strong relationship amongst the post-event functions of the stadiums and the 2010 FIFA World Cup legacy. The roles of stadiums and their strategic positioning in the local municipalities, are mostly associated with value adding as community facilities. These include contributing to economic activity, building relationships with professional sports teams and driving legacy benefits. Participants raised concerns regarding the sustainability of stadiums, particularly the lack of content and the need for financial support. The study recommends further research to examine the feasibility of constructing stadiums in host cities and identifying the crucial success factors intended for sustainable legacy of stadiums during the post-event period. This may inform future bidding processes and minimise the risks associated with stadiums becoming ‘white elephants’ after mega-events, such as the FIFA World Cup.

The aim of the present study was to test the determinants of Qatar’s 1998-2017 performances at the Asian Athletic Championship based on GDP per capita, hosting capacity, and number of migrant sports talents. Using publicly available archival data, the study adopted a single case study design with the help of association and predictive statistics. The findings indicated that the number of migrant athletes was the greatest contributor of Qatar’s performance at the Asia Athletic Championships. There was also a positive and statistically significant relationship with the number of migrant sports talents with GDP per capita and hosting capacity. The findings have vast implications for sports talent migration policy and international competition strategies. Sports personnel (administrators, managers, coaches and policy advocates) will add to their understanding and appreciation that sports talent migrant is also a recent and overlooked strategy for boosting international sports performances. This is one of the first studies to investigate the impact of sports talent migration at the Asia Athletic Championships – indicating that talent migration is also another valuable strategy in archiving national team success (Omondi-Ochieng, 2017b; Allan & Moffat, 2014; Omondi-Ochieng, 2014b; Berlinschi et al., 2013; Frick, 2009; Baur & Lehmann, 2007; Gelade & Dobson, 2007) similar to having talented coaches, excellent training facilities, positive sporting culture and robust funding amongst others.

Ample evidence of undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies among South African children exists. The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) was introduced to address these problems. The success of nutrition intervention programmes in schools is often compromised by poor organisation, an absence of co-ordination and a lack of proper management systems. This study described the challenges that exist in the management of the Secondary School Nutrition Programme in the City of Tshwane, South Africa. A quantitative exploratory design was used to identify a convenience sample of 98 secondary schools in 3 districts in the City of Tshwane. A structured questionnaire was subsequently used to collect data from school principals, nutrition teacher co-ordinators and School Governing Board members. Responses were rated on a 6-point Likert scale. A total of 252 completed questionnaires were analysed using descriptive statistics. Only one of the three objectives of the NSNP has been fully realised. Nutrition education and food production initiatives have not been satisfactorily implemented. Delays in food delivery by suppliers and inadequate food storage facilities were the most frequently recurring challenges at the schools. Absence of community participation and sub-standard management of capacitybuilding projects were identified as challenges to the successful implementation of the NSNP nutrition intervention programme.

Nutritional quality has been a major food and beverage service consideration in planning and reviewing menus to meet patients’ nutritional needs. Failure to provide sufficient and nutritionally adequate hospital meals results in adverse consequences in a patients’ nutritional, health status and the national economy. The intent of this study was to provide useful information and direction for government agencies, hospital administrators and foodservice leaders whose mandate includes making improvements in the quality of hospital menus. A quantitative, descriptive and analytical approach was applied to assess the nutritional content of planned menus in selected public hospitals in Gauteng province. Samples of adult regular diet menus including breakfast, lunch, supper and all snacks were collected from eight hospitals and analysed using the South African based Food Finder 3 software. The recommended South African total energy RDI (Recommended Daily Intake) range is 6300-8400 kJ. Of the 8 hospitals, only two hospital menus met the requirements with a 6743 kJ and a 7978 kJ, respectively. Four hospital menus were below the RDI with the following data: 5751 kJ, 3239 kJ, 3239 kJ and 6105 kJ. Two hospital menus exceeded the RDI, i.e. 12892 kJ and 9073 kJ. While two hospitals met the RDI requirements for total energy, there are still concerns about hospitals with planned menus falling below and above the RDI as this could affect the patients’ nutritional and health status negatively. Therefore, the assessment of nutritional composition of menus could be helpful to provide information on the adequacy of hospital menus, and guide food providers to make informed decisions in improving in-patient menus.

Evidence supports the association between body mass index (BMI) and musculoskeletal pain (MSP) with overweight/obese states being a significant predictor of MSP. This association may be related to vocation and the extent of musculoskeletal exertion therein. This study examined the association between BMI and MSP among foundation phase educators (males: n=19; females: n=78). Educators, classified as non-overweight (BMI≤24.9kg/m2) or overweight (BMI≥25kg/m2), were analyzed for neck/shoulder pain (NSP) and low back pain (LBP) using a validated questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses presented odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) on the association between BMI and MSP (age and gender adjusted). Of 70 completed data sets (including questionnaires and measurement data sheets), 35.7% (n=25) were within the non-overweight BMI range and 64.3% (n=45) were within the overweight/obese group. NSP was reported in 85.7% (n=60) of educators, within which 61.7% (n=37) were in the overweight category. LBP was reported in 78.5% (n=55), 63.7% (n=35) of whom were in the overweight/obese group. Overweight individuals were more likely to experience NSP (OR: 2.486, 95% CI: 0.485-12.749) and LBP (OR: 1.143, 95% CI: 0.342-3.817). Our findings highlight significant associations between BMI and MSP. These findings suggest the need to explore worksite interventions, including workload/ergonomic considerations that reduce MSP, promote a healthy BMI and desirable quality of life among educators.

Discrepancy between the actual body mass index (BMI) categories and perceived body size/weight can lead to adverse weight management. Wrong perception of small body size may act as a barrier to physical activity (PA) behavior and could be detrimental toa healthy quality of life (QoL). Specifically, BMI, perceived body size/weight and their influences on PA level and QoL were studied among an adult sample of 357 participants (223 males and 134 females), aged 30-65 years who were resident in Nnewi, Anambra State of Nigeria. Socio-demographic information was collected using a biodata form. BMI, perceived body size/weight, PA level and QoL were measured using standardized procedures. Most of the participants (64.4%) perceived their body size as normal. However, their BMI was predominantly normal weight (40.3%) and overweight (39.7%). PA level, PC score of QoL and MC score of QoL did not differ significantly (p>0.05) across BMI, perceived body weight, ideal body weight, perceived body weight and level of fatness categories. Whereas most of the participants perceived their body size and ideal body size as normal, their BMI was predominantly normal weight and overweight. PA level, PC score of QoL and MC score of QoL did not differ across BMI, perceived body size/weight perceived ideal body size as well asperceived level of fatness categories. Health education is required for overweight and obese individuals to understand the implications of their status as well as the importance of PA behavior as a health-promotion strategy.

Excessive sedentary behaviour can have a negative impact on health. This study examined the prevalence, sociodemographic and health correlates of sedentary behaviour among persons 15-98 years old in South Africa. Data were analysed from the cross-sectional South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1) 2012, using a sample of 13792 individuals (mean age=38.6, SD=17.6). The occurrence of high sedentary behaviour (≥8 hours/day) was 13.3%, with the mean of 265 minutes a day (SD=173). In adjusted analyses, older age, not employed, having functional disability, cognitive impairment, consumption of fast foods and processed meat, having hypertension and stroke were positively associated with sedentary behaviour, while being Coloured and having angina were negatively associated with high sedentary behaviour and/or total minutes spent sedentary per day. High sedentary behaviour is not uncommon in this population. The results can be used to guide future intervention strategies aimed at reducing sedentary behaviour among the adolescent and adult population in South Africa.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity (ADHD) involves a constellation of symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Disturbances in lateral preference in ADHD are of interest as they may explain deficiencies in brain development. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of lateralization in children with ADHD. One hundred and sixty children (80 with ADHD symptoms and 80 matched controls without ADHD symptoms), both male and female from the North-West and Limpopo provinces, aged between 7 and 13 years, participated in the study. Participants were tested on simple tasks to establish hand, foot, eye and ear dominance. The results revealed that crossed laterality was more prevalent in the ADHD group compared to the control group (79% v. 41%). The two groups were also compared on measures of inattention, hyperactivity/impulsiveness, impairment, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder to establish whether laterality affected these variables. Analysis of Variance revealed that children with crossed laterality were significantly impaired in more settings than those with either right or left dominance (p=0.04). The results also revealed that crossed laterality could lead to more symptoms of ODD. Children with ADHD exhibited significantly more cross lateral dominance than typically developing controls. Ear dominance seems to be a more accurate predictor of ADHD symptoms than handedness, footedness and/or eye dominance. This study revealed that lateral dominance could discriminate between children with ADHD and a control group without ADHD symptoms. It is, therefore, recommended that lateral dominance assessments be included in the diagnosis and treatment of children with ADHD.

Biokineticists are allegedly trespassing on the scope of profession (SoP) of Physiotherapy.This is a serious accusation, which warrants a careful evidence based investigation. These concerns, raised by the South African Society of Physiotherapy (SASP), which were subsequently submitted to the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) date back to 2011. In July 2016 the HPCSA issued a communiqué to the Biokinetics Association of South Africa (BASA) and the Heads of the Departments of Universities of Podiatry, Physiotherapy and Biokinetics, to officially communicate to podiatrists, physiotherapists and biokineticists, interns and students-intraining that a person who is not registered as a physiotherapist may not use the terms “physical therapy” and “physical therapist”. The objectives of this study are to: distinguish the SoP of Physiotherapy and of Biokinetics through the consideration of their gazetted SoP, to review the minimum training standards of both professions in relation to exercise/physical therapy, to identify potential areas of scope overlap between Physiotherapy and Biokinetics, and to identify remedial steps that could help to prevent any future infringement or overlap in their SoPs. A literature search and documentary analysis of peer-reviewed professional journal publications, statutory and professional bodies’ websites, communiqués and proceedings from meetings was conducted using the following search engines and databases: Google, Sabinet and Google Scholar adopting PRIMSA standard practices. Keywords used in the search were “biokineticists,” “physiotherapists,” “trespassing of scope of profession” and “patient referral.” The exclusion criteria were the alleged trespassing of other South African professionals onto the SoP of Physiotherapy and patient referral systems relating to other South African health professions other than Biokinetics or Physiotherapy. The literature search identified 335 records, which were subsequently reduced to 14 after the application of the exclusion criteria. Findings reveal an overlap in both the SoP and pathology management in the health dimensions of the paradigms between the professions. A correct interpretation of the health dimensions will aid practitioners in both professions to more accurately and appropriately render their professional services thereby avoiding overlap, controversy and confusion as well as developing a better understanding of their SoPs.