Relationship between participation in physical activity and health risk behaviours among youth in high schools in Mtwara region, Tanzania
Year: 2007
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for major noncommunicable diseases, which contribute substantially to the global burden of chronic diseases, disability and death.The burden of disability, morbidity and mortality, attributable to non-communicable diseases, is currently enormous in the developed countries and is increasingly growing in the developing countries.It has been observed that there is a great decline in physical activity during the transition from high school to higher education centres.The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between participation in physical activity and health risk behaviours among high school students in the Mtwara region, Tanzania.The objectives of this study were: (1) to identify the physical activity levels among high school students in Mtwara region, Tanzania, (2) to identify health risk behaviours among the above mentioned high school students, (3) to identify the factors that influenced them to engage in health risk behaviours and (4) to establish the relationship between physical activity and health risk behaviours.A descriptive quantitative study design was used whereby a stratified sample of high school students, including boys and girls between the ages of 17 to 26 years, was selected to complete selfadministered questionnaires.The study measured health risk behaviours such as alcohol use, smoking cigarettes, drug abuse, sedentary life and sexual behaviour.Quantitative data was captured and analyzed using SAS 9.1 and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 13.0 programmes.The Kruskal-Wallis' test was used to test the means between variables and the Spearman's correlation coefficient test was utilized to test associations between variables related to health risk behaviour and demographic variables.Two hundred (200) high school students, with a mean age of 20.47 (SD=1.493)participated in the study.Of the total number of participants, i 67.0% (n=134) of the sample was not participating in physical activity.Furthermore, 26% of the sample smoked cigarettes; 93% consumed alcohol; 9.5% used drugs while 93% was involved in risky sexual behaviours.The study identified relationships between participation in physical activity and health risk behaviours.The youth involved in risky behaviours like consuming alcoholic drinks and smoking cigarettes were less physically active.The results of this study provide valuable information for the relevant policy-makers and stakeholders for reasons for the implementation of physical activity programmes classes in schools of the Mtwara region and in Tanzania as a whole.If all of these risk behaviours are coupled with the rising threat of HIV/AIDS, the combined impact may be devastating on the nation, unless effective preventive and promotive strategies are put in place.
Author: Edgar Boniface Nannyambe
Language: English
Topic: Physical Activity and Health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: University of the Western Cape
OpenAlex ID: W2534091264