Research Articles (Physiotherapy)

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Browsing by Subject "Adolescents"

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    Development of a cost effective three-dimensional posture analysis tool: validity and reliability
    (BioMed Central, 2013) Brink, Yolandi; Louw, Quinette; Grimmer, Karen; Schreve, Kristiaan; van der Westhuizen, Gareth; Jordaan, Esme
    BACKGROUND: The lack of clear understanding of the association between sitting posture and adolescent musculoskeletal pain, might reflect invalid and/or unreliable posture measurement instruments. The psychometric properties of any new measurement instrument should be demonstrated prior to use for research or clinical purposes. This paper describes psychometric testing of a new three-dimensional (3D), portable, non-invasive posture analysis tool (3D-PAT), from sequential studies using a mannequin and high school students. METHODS: The first study compared the 3D-(X-, Y- and Z-) coordinates of reflective markers placed on a mannequin using the 3D-PAT, and the Vicon motion analysis system. This study also tested the reliability of taking repeated measures of the 3D-coordinates of the reflective markers. The second study determined the concurrent validity and test-retest reliability of the 3D-PAT measurements of nine sitting postural angles of high school students undertaking a standard computing task. In both studies, concordance correlation coefficients and Intraclass correlation coefficients described test-retest reliability, whilst Pearson product moment correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman plots demonstrated concurrent validity. RESULTS: The 3D-PAT provides reliable and valid 3D measurements of five of the nine postural angles i.e. head flexion, neck flexion, cranio-cervical angle, trunk flexion and head lateral bending in adolescents undertaking a standard task. CONCLUSIONS: The 3D-PAT is appropriate for research and clinical settings to measure five upper quadrant postural angles in three dimensions. As a measurement instrument it can provide further understanding of the relationship between sitting posture, changes to sitting posture and adolescent musculoskeletal pain.
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    The prevalence of intimate partner violence in the family: a systematic review of the implications for adolescents in Africa
    (Oxford University Press., 2013) Roman, Nicolette V.; Frantz, Jose M.
    Background. Intimate partner violence (IPV) and its multiple effects are well documented in Western research, but these are not adequately described in Africa. The effects of IPV on adolescent health and well-being are not conclusive. Objective. The aim of this review was to systematically appraise prevalence studies conducted on the African continent to establish the prevalence of IPV and the implications of exposure on adolescents in Africa. Methods. A comprehensive search was conducted in May 2012 for the previous 10 years, using databases such as Ebscohost (Medline, CINAHL, PsyArticles), Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Project Muse and BioMed Central and also specific journals Lancet, and JSTOR. Two reviewers independently evaluated the methodological quality of the studies reviewed. Results. Seven eligible epidemiological studies were included in this review. Five of the studies were conducted in South Africa, one in Liberia, and another was a multi-country study that included Egypt, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia. The prevalence of IPV in African countries ranged from approximately 26.5% to 48%. All studies reported exposure to family violence during childhood. Conclusion. The findings support the global burden of IPV. There is also a need for standardized tools to determine IPV in Africa and a clear definition that can be used in research to allow comparison with future IPV studies. In addition, the studies point to a need for interventions focusing on adolescents exposed to family violence.
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    Sexual risk behaviour among female school adolescents in a local community in the Western Cape, South Africa
    (LAM Publications Limited, 2006) Phillips, Julie; Malcolm, C.
    Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa are faced with a changeover from adolescence to adulthood shadowed by the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic sweeping through the African continent. With this growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa it is important to understand the behaviours that place youth at risk of HIV/AIDS, other STDs and unwanted pregnancies in order to develop and to implement appropriate health-promoting interventions. The prevalence of self-reported sexual risk behaviours of high school girls was investigated at three high schools in the Strand, Western Cape. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire adapted from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. Statistical methods of data analysis included cross-tabulations using the Chi-square test for association between sexual risk behaviours and socio-demographic variables. The study sample consisted of 801 female high school learners aged 13-19 years (X=15.75 years, SD = 1.57). Twenty-seven percent of the learners reported being sexually active with 3.6% reporting sexual intercourse onset before 14 years of age. Forty-five percent reported having had more than one sexual partner and 50% of the sample reported no condom use. More than 5% of the learners had already been pregnant. Most learners (78.9%) indicated that they had been informed about HIV/AIDS at school, and 82.5% indicated that they are aware of the consequences of unprotected sex. Results of the study confirm that many female high school learners are engaging in sexual risk behaviours despite risk knowledge. The results emphasise the need to provide learners with targeted information and skills at an early age.