Sunday R Akinbo
University of Lagos, Nigeria
Title: Sport participation and sport injuries among youth and young adults in Nigeria
Biography
Biography: Sunday R Akinbo
Abstract
Background: Participation in sports is a healthy behavior, but not without risk of injuries. Extent of recreational sports participation and information on sports injuries among Nigerian youth and young adults is presently unknown. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and pattern of sport participation and injuries among youth and young adults in Nigeria. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey, which involved the use of a validated questionnaire to collect information on sports participation, associated factors, and sports injuries among a representative sample of 433 (276 male and 197 female) undergraduate students of the University of Lagos in Nigeria. Results: A total of 278 (68%) students (aged 16 – 39 years) participated in at least one sport in the previous year, of which football (53.2%) had the highest participation rate. Male students participated more frequently (p<0.001). Injury rate was 33.7 injuries/100 students in one year. The prevalence of injury was 45.7% in male students and 12.7% in female students. About half (49.3%) of reported injuries resulted in time loss. The lower leg (20.5%) and ankle (15.1%) were the most frequently injured body parts. Football (73.8%) recorded the highest prevalence of injury. Conclusion: Sports participation among youth and young adults in Nigeria is fair and sports injury rate is considerably high; mostly affecting the lower extremity and most injuries resulting from football participation. Injury pattern is similar to those of regular athletes.