Absolute and relative reliability of SCRuM test battery components assembled for schoolboy rugby players playing competitive rugby in low-resource settings: A pragmatic in-season test-retest approach.

Background: Schoolboy rugby is a popular sport which forms the bedrock of rugby development in many African countries, including Zimbabwe. With burgeoning talent identification programmes, the development of multi-dimensional, logically-validated, and reliable test batteries is essential to inform the objective selection of potentially talented young rugby athletes. Objectives: This study sought evidence on the absolute and relative test-retest reliability of the component test items in the newly-assembled SCRuM test battery. Methods: Utilising a pragmatic test-retest experimental design, a sample of 41 Under-19 schoolboy players playing competitive rugby in the elite Super Eight Schools Rugby League in Harare, Zimbabwe, participated in the study. Results: Physiological and game-specific skills tests which showed good to excellent relative reliability and acceptable absolute reliability, included: 20 m and 40 m speed, L-run, Vertical Jump (VJ), 60 s Push-Up, 2 kg Medicine Ball Chest Throw test (2 kg MBCT), Wall Sit Leg Strength test (WSLS), Repeated High Intensity Exercise test (RHIE), One Repetition Maximum Back Squat (1-RM BS) and Bench Press tests (1-RM BP), Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 test (Yo-Yo IRT L1), Tackling Proficiency test, Passing Ability Skill test and Running and Catching Ability skill test. Conclusion: All these tests are reliable and warrant inclusion in the SCRuM test battery for possible profiling of U19 schoolboy rugby players during the 'in-season' phase provided there is adequate participant familiarisation and test standardisation. The test-retest ICCs and measurement errors are generalisable to other young athletes in this population, making the tests useful for the evaluation of training and developmental effects of the measured constructs.

Antenatal depression: an examination of prevalence and its associated factors among pregnant women attending Harare polyclinics.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal depression is the most prevalent common mental health disorder affecting pregnant women. Here, we report the prevalence of and associated factors for antenatal depression among pregnant women attending antenatal care services in Harare, Zimbabwe. METHODS: From January-April 2018, 375 pregnant women, aged 16-46 years, residing mostly in Harare's high-density suburbs were recruited from two randomly-selected polyclinics. Antenatal depression was measured using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Sociodemographic data including; maternal age, education, marital status, economic status, obstetric history and experiences with violence were also collected. Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine the association between antenatal depression and participants' characteristics. RESULTS: The prevalence of antenatal depression was 23.47% (95% CI: 19.27-28.09). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed intimate partner violence (IPV) [OR 2.45 (95% CI: 1.47-4.19)] and experiencing negative life events [OR 2.02 (95% CI: 1.19-3.42)] as risk factors for antenatal depression, with being married/cohabiting [OR 0.45 (95% CI: 0.25-0.80)] being a protective factor. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of antenatal depression is high with associated factors being interpersonal. Context-specific interventions are therefore needed to address the complexity of the factors associated with antenatal depression.

Coaches' perceptions on qualities defining good adolescent rugby players and are important for player recruitment in talent identification programs: the SCRuM project.

OBJECTIVE: Competitive rugby is increasingly becoming popular among adolescent players even in countries hardly known for rugby such as Zimbabwe. Given the increased participation rates, burgeoning talent identification (TID) programs and the reportedly high injury-risk associated with competitive youth rugby, the minimal qualities or skills needed for effective performance by all young players need further clarification. Therefore, this qualitative study was conducted to explore the perceptions of high-school based rugby coaches on the key qualities or skills defining good adolescent rugby players and should be considered for player recruitment in TID programs. Currently, there is no consensus in literature from the coaches' perspective on these qualities. RESULTS: The final sample had 22 coaches (median age = 45.5 years) with years of coaching high-school rugby ranging from 6 to 17 years. Using the conventional approach to inductive content analysis four broad themes emerged suggesting the multifaceted nature of the requirements imperative for effective and optimal rugby performance among adolescent rugby players as perceived by the coaches. Themes identified included: physiological characteristics, anthropometric attributes, psychological qualities and game-specific skills. Possibly, training approaches or design of rugby-specific test-batteries should consider all these important qualities and be multi-dimensional in composition.

The burden of low back pain among undergraduate physiotherapy students at the University of Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Globally, non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is a common cause of morbidity in all people including physiotherapy students. However, no study has investigated the problem among undergraduate physiotherapy students in Zimbabwe. This study was conducted, therefore, to provide evidence of the prevalence, clinical characteristics and consequences of recurrent NSLBP among undergraduate physiotherapy students at the University of Zimbabwe. RESULTS: The final sample had 90 participants, giving a study response rate of 97.8%. The median age of the participants was 22 years. The lifetime prevalence of NSLBP was 56.7% (n = 51) and the mean age of onset for NSLBP was 19.7 years (SD = 1.64 years). The 12-month prevalence of recurrent NSLBP was 38.9% (n = 35). Of the 35, 20 (57.1%) experienced at least three episodes in the last 12 months. Each episode lasted for 1-7 days in most participants (n = 31, 88.6%). The mean intensity of recurrent episodes was 3.37 (SD = 1.43) measured on Visual Analogue Scale. Only 7 (20%) experienced at least one functional limitation due to recurrent NSLBP. Additionally, only 2 (5.7%) sought medical treatment for the pain. However, 6 (17.1%) had to be absent from the university secondary to recurrent NSLBP.

Human immunodeficiency virus associated pulmonary conditions leading to hospital admission and the pulmonary rehabilitation services received by patients at two central hospitals in Harare.

OBJECTIVE: Use of highly active antiretroviral therapy has led to marked reductions in the incidence of HIV-associated opportunistic infections but has had comparatively less impact on the incidence of some pulmonary diseases. This study was done to determine the pulmonary conditions leading to hospital admissions in people living with HIV/AIDS at two central hospitals in Zimbabwe and the pulmonary rehabilitation intervention received. RESULTS: A total of 92 participants were recruited of which 60 (65.2%) were females. The mean age of the participants was 41.3 years (SD = 9.1). The most common pulmonary condition leading to hospital admission was tuberculosis in 53 (57.6%). About 52 (56.6%) of the participants suffered from pulmonary complications in the last 6 months, 48 (92.3%) were admitted and 26 (50.0%) of the participants received physiotherapy treatment during their admission. None of the participants indicated that they once attended an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation clinic. Respiratory complication is one of the leading causes of morbidity associated with HIV but no pulmonary rehabilitation services are being offered to these patients. There is need for introduction of pulmonary rehabilitation programs for people living with HIV/AIDS in the current setting.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among registered general nurses: a case of a large central hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVE: Worldwide, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a common cause of morbidity affecting occupational individuals such as health-care professionals. However, nothing is known about WMSDs in hospital nurses in Zimbabwe. This study was conducted to provide cross-sectional evidence of the 12-month prevalence, consequences and factors associated with WMSDs among 208 nurses at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals (PGH). RESULTS: The response rate for the study was 55.7%. The median age for the participants was 32.0 years (interquartile range = 29-36 years). The lifetime prevalence of WMSDs in nurses was 95.7% (n = 112). The first episodes were experienced in the first 5 years of working (n = 59, 52.7%). However, 82.1% (n = 96) nurses experienced WMSDs in the last 12 months. Low back pain was the most common WMSDs reported (n = 55, 67.9%). WMSDs were significantly associated with qualification attained, postgraduate ergonomic training and working experience. Overall, 87.5% (n = 84) nurses experienced at least one of the consequences of WMSDs. Cognisant of the limitations of the study, the present study found that WMSDs are a common occurrence among nurses at PGH. This creates a need for prompt hospital education programs aimed at raising awareness among nurses on the existence of WMSDs and the consequences at PGH.