Sports Injuries In Second-Cycle Institutions: The Burden On, and Risk Factors Associated With Student Health

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescent engagement in sport and other recreational activities has been increasingly embraced worldwide due to its benefits. Notwithstanding, it also remains one of the major contributors to injury burden translating into half of the global injury rate. Yet not much is known about the prevalence of sports-related injuries and the associated risk factors among second-cycle institution athletes in Ghana. This study sought to estimate prevalence and identify the risk factors associated with sport injuries among athletes in Second-cycle institutions in the Kumasi Metropolitan area.
Method: A cross-sectional design was carried out with 600 athletes from 16 out of the 24 public schools in the Kumasi metropolis through a two-stage cluster sampling. A smartphone interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the athletes. Data were summarized in tables and figures. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify independent predictors of injury. Data were analyzed with STATA version 14.0.
Result: The overall injury prevalence estimated was thirty-eight percent. Dislocations and sprains (46.7%) and closed wounds (1.5%) were the common and least injury types recorded. Likewise, ankle and elbow were the most and least body region to be affected
respectively. Individual factors such as nature of sports and years of playing experience were the identified predictors of adolescent injuries.
Conclusion: Adolescent sports injury prevalence is high in Kumasi metropolis among second-cycle institution. Dislocation and sprains were the most common injuries. These were mostly associated with contact sports.