Leisure-time physical activity practices and the influencing factors among government office employees in Kigali, Rwanda

Background: Physical inactivity is one of the major risk factors of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, certain cancers, and all-cause mortality. Office employees are particularly exposed to such diseases, due to the nature of their work, which mainly involves passive activities that require less energy expenditure. Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess the leisure-time physical activity participation (LTPAP) among government employees in Kigali, Rwanda, as well as to highlight the factors that motivate, or hinder their participation. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive quantitative study was conducted with 600 participants. A stratified sampling technique was used to determine the study sample from the Government of Rwanda's Sports Policy stakeholder institutions. Then, a convenience sample of participants was selected from each stratum to form the final study sample. Data were collected using a three-part customised, self-administered questionnaire to capture demographic data, leisure-time physical activity levels (LTPA) using the Godin-Shephard questionnaire, and the factors that influenced participation. Analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to summarise and draw meaningful associations between different variables. Results: More than half (61.1%) of the participants were not sufficiently active. Physical activity levels declined significantly with advancing age (p = 0.004) and increasing working experience (p = 0.002); female participants were less active than males. The prevention of diseases and maintenance of good health were the most frequently reported contributors (48.8%) to physical activity participation, while time and tight work schedules were the most frequently reported hindrances (62.2%). Conclusion: The majority of government office employees in Kigali did not engage in sufficient leisure-time physical activity, hence they may be at high risk of developing NCDs. Strategies to increase LTPA among employees should be implemented

Perceptions of undergraduate dental students at maker ere college of health sciences; Kampala; Uganda towards patient record keeping

Background. The creating; maintenance and storage of patients' medical records is an important competence for the professional training of a dental student. Objective. Owing to the unsatisfactory state of dental records at the students' clinic; the objective of this study was to obtain information from undergraduate dental students on the factors that affect this process and elicit recommendations for improvement. Methods. This qualitative cross-sectional study used focus group discussions with 4th- and 5th-year dental students for data collection. Data were captured through a written transcript and an audio recorder. The data were transcribed and analysed manually through developing themes; which were compared with the literature and interpreted. Results. Three themes emerged: (i) Poorly designed clerking forms. The clerking forms were deemed to have a poor design with inadequate space for clinical notes. It was recommended that they be redesigned. (ii) Inadequate storage space. Space for storing patient records was deemed inadequate and a referencing system for file retrieval was lacking. It was recommended that more space be allocated for storage; with a referencing system for easy file retrieval. (iii) Poor maintenance of records. Patients' records; especially radiographs; were not well labelled and stored. It was recommended that drug envelopes be utilised to store radiographs. An electronic system was deemed the ultimate solution to this problem. Conclusion. The general perception was that the current paper-based record system at the clinic was unsatisfactory. Therefore; there is a need to improve the maintenance and storage of records; and to change to a more efficient electronic system. The students' attitude towards record keeping was found to be questionable; with a need to be addressed as part of teaching and learning in the curriculum. Lecturers were deemed to have a bigger role to play in the record-keeping process

The effect of occupationally related low back pain on functional activities among male manual workers in a construction company in Cape Town; South Africa

This study determined the prevalence as well as the effect of occupationally-related low back pain on the functional activities of workers in a construction company in Cape Town. A cross-sectional; descriptive survey using a validated questionnaire was carried out. The questionnaire comprising demographic data; low back pain symptoms information; functional limitations scale and the participation restriction scale was used as a closed ended interview guide. Workers suffered physical; emotional; fi nancial and functional problems with 41.5 reporting sickness absence. Lifting and bending were the most affected activities associated to low back pain (p0.05) while walking/running; recreational activities and carrying out of everyday tasks were among the restricted activities. The one year prevalence of low back pain was 25 ; comparable with that of developed countries. Occupationally-related low back pain is a challenge among construction workers which they perceive to cause serious functional activity limitation. All stakeholders must be procured for the prevention and management of occupationally-related low back pain in order to prevent functional activity limitations among construction workers. Physiotherapists should raise the levels of awareness and monitor construction activities on site in order to prevent disability at primary level

Perception of risk of HIV and sexual risk behaviours among students in the United States; Turkey and South Africa

The aim of this study was to examine HIV sexual risk behaviours and perception of HIV risk among 1 095 students from the United States of America (US); Turkey and South Africa. Randomly selected students who were enrolled in general education courses completed a structured questionnaire. Results revealed statistically significant differences in specific HIV-related sexual behaviours among students from the three countries and among male and female students in each country. A higher percentage of US and South African students engage in HIV risky sexual behaviours compared with their Turkish counterparts; and a higher percentage of female students in the US and South Africa engage in HIV sexual risk behaviours compared with their male colleagues. A higher proportion of Turkish male students engaged in sexual risk behaviours compared with their female counterparts. The perception of HIV risk was low among US and Turkish students; and high among South African students. There was no agreement between engaging in risky sexual behaviour and self-perception of HIV risk among South African female students; while agreement was poor for US male and female students; Turkish male and female students; and South African male students. The observed optimistic bias needs to be considered in the design and implementation of HIV prevention programmes for these populations

HIV/AIDS Knowledge; Behaviour and Beliefs Among South African University Students

Globally; South Africa has the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS. In the absence of cure; prevention is the only available method to reduce HIV prevalence rates. This can only be obtained through behavioural change; which is associated with a good knowledge about HIV. The study aims to determine the knowledge; beliefs; behaviours and sources of HIV and AIDS information among university students at two tertiary institutions in South Africa. The study was a quantitative; cross-sectional; descriptive and comparative survey. Students from the Western Cape Province and the KwaZulu-Natal Province participated in the study. The main findings of the study were that althoughstudents had an adequate general knowledge on HIV/AIDS; both groups scored the lowest in the transmission modes of HIV. The media was the main source of HIV/AIDS information for students and university health care facilities need to be more proactive in informing students about the transmission of HIV/AIDS

Research Productivity of Academics in a Physiotherapy Department: a Case Study

Objective: Research productivity is an important activity among academics. This study was done to document the research productivity of the academics of a physiotherapy department in South Africa. Method: An archival research design was used to document the research productivity for the physiotherapy department between 2002 and 2009. Data were analysed by two independent reviewers and consensus was reached on the information to be included in the study. Results: Among the nine academics there were 67 publications; 20 articles in progress; 7 under review and 63 conferences attended. While the overall research productivity of the department seems to be good; the bulk of the productivity rests in the hands of the senior academics. Conclusion: There is a need to facilitate the acquisition of research skills in academic staff; particularly in upgrading staff to PhD level and improving publication output

Research productivity of academics in a physiotherapy department: a case study

Objective: Research productivity is an important activity among academics. This study was done to document the research productivity of the academics of a physiotherapy department in South Africa. Method: An archival research design was used to document the research productivity for the physiotherapy department between 2002 and 2009. Data were analysed by two independent reviewers and consensus was reached on the information to be included in the study. Results: Among the nine academics there were 67 publications; 20 articles in progress; 7 under review and 63 conferences attended. While the overall research productivity of the department seems to be good; the bulk of the productivity rests in the hands of the senior academics. Conclusion: There is a need to facilitate the acquisition of research skills in academic staff; particularly in upgrading staff to PhD level and improving publication output