Abstract

---

This study assessed the level of cooperation between Secondary School and State Sport Council in staging Intramural Sport Competition in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Ex-post facto research design was used for this study. The population of the study comprise the management and staff of public Secondary Schools and the personnel of the State Sports Council in Nasarawa State totalling seven hundred and twenty-six (726). 300 respondents were selected using stratified and systematic sampling procedures and were issued the questionnaire. Two hundred and seventy- three (273) questionnaire were returned, upon which the data analysis was conducted. The data was analysed using Mean and Standard deviation to answer the research questions while Chi-Square was used to test the formulated hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that the level of cooperation between the Secondary Schools and State Sports Council on provision of funds for intramural sports competition in the State was significant. The observed Chi- Square value for the test was 76.724 with a p-value of 0.000 (p< 0.05) obtained at df =12. Also the level of cooperation between secondary schools and State Sports Council on formulation of policy for staging intramural sports competition in Nasarawa State was statistically significant. This is because observed Chi-Square value of 70.329 obtained at df =12 and a p-value of 0.000 (P< 0.05). It is therefore concluded that there is high level of cooperation between Secondary Schools and State Sports Council on funding for intramural Sports competitions in Nasarawa State. Also the cooperation between Secondary Schools and State Sports Council on policy formulation for staging of intramural Sports competitions in Nasarawa State is cordial. This paper recommends that there is need for improvement in the level of funding for intramural Sports competitions among schools in the State and that Secondary School personnel should be given more opportunity to take part in the formulation of policy for intramural Sports competitions in Nasarawa State since they are at the implementation stage of such policies.

Abstract

---

The purpose of the study was to assess the practice of premarital genotype screening for sickle cell disease among university students in North-West zone, Nigeria. The study used a descriptive survey research design. The population comprised of 70,530 undergraduate students in the ten Federal universities of North-West zone, Nigeria. The researcher sampled 572 students through multi-stage sampling techniques, which comprised of cluster, simple random and proportionate sampling techniques. A researcher-developed close-ended questionnaire was used for data collection. 534 (93%) copies of the administered questionnaire were used for data analysis because 38(7%) were not duly filled by the respondents and as such they were considered invalid. Descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages were used to describe the demographic characteristics of the respondents and to answer the research question, means and standard deviations were used. Inferential statistics of one sample t-test was used to analyze the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. Finding of the study revealed that the respondents do not significantly practice premarital genotype screening for sickle cell disease (mean = 2.49 and P = 0.707). Based on the finding of the study, the researcher concluded that university students in North-West zone, Nigeria do not practice premarital genotype screening for sickle cell disease. The researcher recommended thatthe university managements in North-West zone, Nigeria should make genotype screening a requirement for admission of students and also the need for health personnel in university health services in North- West zone, Nigeria to include counselling on premarital genotype screening for sickle cell disease as one of their programmes.

Abstract

---

The study was conducted to assessed the practice of malaria prevention among Junior Secondary School Students in Kaduna State, Nigeria. To achieve this purpose, ex-post facto research design was used. A total sample of 450 of junior secondary school students in Kaduna State from the population of 158,274 was selected through multi-stage sampling procedures of simple random sampling, proportionate and systematic sampling techniques. The instrument used for the study was the researcher's structured questionnaire. Out of the 450 copies of the questionnaire distributed, 441 were valid for analyses. Inferential statistics of one sample t-test was used to test the formulated hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that the practice of malaria prevention among Junior Secondary School Students in Kaduna State is not significant (p = 0.7). Based on the results it was concl that, the practice of malaria prevention among Junior Secondary School Students in Kaduna State is not good. It was therefore recommended that non-governmental organisations in collaboration with the ministry of health should conduct student workshop or symposiums in schools so as to help in encouraging and correcting poor practices of malaria prevention into good and healthful ones among junior secondary school students in the state.

Abstract

---

Sports are very popular all over the world because of the diverse purposes they serve. Sports serve as a social institution teaches and reinforces societal beliefs, norms and values, thereby assisting in socializing athletes into major cultural and social behavior patterns in various societies. This paper focused on challenges of secondary school physical education and sports in Nigeria: implications for government obligations. It discussed the sustainable future directions for physical education and sports in schools, situation of physical education in secondary schools, governmental obligations towards sports, finally the paper concluded that all personnel who assume professional responsibility for sport must have and be provided with appropriate qualification and training. The paper further recommended that all secondary school sports personnel should be carefully selected in sufficient numbers and given preliminary as well as further training to ensure that they reach adequate levels of specializations.

Abstract

---

This study assessed the effect of step aerobics on triglyceride level of overweight female adolescents in Gindiri, Plateau state, Nigeria. One group repeated measure experimental research design was used. Sixteen (16) overweight female adolescents who were between the ages of 14 and16 years volunteered to participate in the study. The participants were subjected to 8-week step aerobics performed three times a week on alternate days. The training intensity was maintained at between 45% and 50% of heart rate reserve (HRR) and 50% to 55% HRR at the first 4 weeks and 5th – 8th week respectively. The Borg's rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scale was used to monitor the rate of exertion throughout the training period. The enzymatic colorimetric method was used to measure the concentration of triglyceride in fasting serum of the participants. Triglyceride concentration was measured at baseline, immediately after the 4th week and 8th week respectively. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the demographic data of the participant. Repeated-measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. The result of the study revealed significant decrease in triglyceride level of the participants due to 8-week step aerobics (p - 0.000). It was concluded that moderate intensity step aerobics performed at 45% -55% HRR three times a week on alternate days for a period of 8 weeks had significant effect on triglyceride level of overweight female adolescents in Gindiri, Plateau State, Nigeria. It was recommended that overweight female adolescents should be involved in regular step aerobics to achieve desirable weight overtime and enjoy greater protection from cardiovascular diseases.

Abstract

---

The study looked into how group-based jogging changed centripetal fat and anthropometric index among adolescent students in Zing, Taraba State, Nigeria. A onegroup pretest/post-test design was adopted for this study. Purposive sampling techniques were employed to select 30 adolescent students from Government Junior Secondary School Zing, aged 11 to 15, to participate in the study. A body composition monitor device, a stature metre for height, and a flexible tape metre were utilised in this study to investigate the effect of group-based jogging on centripetal fat and anthropometric index in adolescent students. All of the adolescent students chosen satisfied the study's inclusion requirements and were all assigned to group-based jogging at the baseline of pretest values. The exercise programme lasted between 38 and 44 minutes and ended with a cooldown session. All the exercise sessions were conducted between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. on alternate days; Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for eight (8) consecutive weeks. The intensity of the training was maintained between 40 and 45% of the estimated Heart Rate maximum for 2 weeks and was increased as the training progressed to 45–55% of the estimated Heart Rate maximum after 3–8 weeks of the exercise. The collected data were analysed using the statistical package SPSS version 20, and the student's independent t-test was used at a 0.05 alpha level. The results of the study revealed that group-based jogging had a significant effect on visceral fat (P = 0.000) and waist circumference (P = 0.000). Based on the results of this study, it was therefore concluded that group-based jogging for 8 weeks had a significant effect on the centripetal fat and anthropometric index, thus reducing the visceral fat, and waist circumference, among adolescent students in Zing, Taraba State, Nigeria. It was recommended that the school management should encourage adolescent students to participate in jogging for 30–60 minutes, at least 3 days per week, for the prevention, control, and management of centripetal fat and anthropometric index among adolescent students in Zing, Taraba State, Nigeria.

Abstract

---

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of low-resistance training on percent body fat (%BF) of young-older male adults in Samaru, Zaria. A repeated-measures experimental research design was used for this study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select young-oldermale adults between the ages of 60 and 69 years, who volunteered to participate in this study. The training intensity was maintained between 25 and 45% of one repetition maximum (1RM) on percent body fat. The training programme had two sessions of low-resistance per week for a duration of 12 weeks. Stop watch, stadio meter, resistance machines and body composition analyser machine were used as instruments for this study. The participants trained at 25% of 1RM from base-line to 4th week, at 35% of 1RM from 4th to 8th, and at 45% of 1RM from 8th to 12th week. The %BF was assessed at base-line, at the end of 4th, 8th and 12th week of the training. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation and standard error) were calculated while repeatedmeasures analysis of variance and Scheffe's post-hoc test were used to analyse the data obtained at 0.05 level of significance. At the end of the 12 weeks training, the major findings from the study showed significant decrease in %BF (p = 0.000), therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected. The Scheffe post-hoc test further showed significant means difference in the decreasing effect on the %BF (p = 0.000) between base-line and 4th week, 4th and 8th week, 8th and 12th week of training. In conclusion, low-resistance training from 25-45% of 1RM reduced%BF of the young-older male adults. It was further recommended that young-older male adults should train more at low-resistance intensity between 25 and 45% of 1RM to reduce percent body fat.

Abstract

---

This study examined the effect of health education on avoiding sharing of sharp object as a strategy for prevention of hepatitis b spread among pregnant women in Yola, Adamawa state - Nigeria. The population for this study comprises of one hundred and forty-three thousand six hundred and eighty-nine (143,689) pregnant women registered in Adamawa State, Nigeria. Out of which one thousand one hundred and ninety-four (1,194) pregnant women was used as a target population from the three (3) selected health facilities. The sample size for this study consisted of sixty (60) pregnant women who were drawn from the target population of pregnant women, thirty (30) experimental group and thirty (30) control group for the purpose of generalization. A multi-stage sampling technique that involved stratify sampling, simple random sampling, proportionate sampling and systematics sampling techniques were used for this study. The instrument used for data collection is researcher developed questionnaire and hepatitis B modules (manual). The questionnaire was score using a 4-point modified Likert scale. Pilot study was conducted to ascertain the reliability of the instrument, a reliability index of 0.919 was obtained which means that the instrument is reliable. Data were collected as pre-test scores, after the intervention another round of questionnaire was re-administered and data were again collected from the two groups (experimental and control). Data collected were analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), IBM version 26. Statistical procedures used included frequencies and percentages, means and standard deviation. Inferential statistics of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used in the test of the hypotheses at the fixed probability level of 0.05. Findings revealed that six weeks health education programme has encouraged avoidance of sharing sharp objects among pregnant women in Yola Adamawa State, p- value is > 0.05. Based on the findings, the study recommended that pregnant women in Yola Adamawa State should improve on their behaviour on avoiding sharing sharp object through health education as preventive measures for hepatitis B.

Abstract

---

This study aims to investigate the correlation between hand dominance, body mass index (BMI), and isometric grip strength among undergraduate students in the Human Kinetics Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria.A correlational research design was employed, with 25 undergraduate students aged 18 to 23 selected via purposive sampling. Data on hand dominance, BMI, and grip strength were collected using standardised tools and analysed using IBM SPSS version 20. The study found a weak positive correlation between BMI and both dominant and non-dominant hand grip strength. Additionally, a significant difference in grip strength was observed between dominant and non-dominant hands. However, a weak negative correlation was noted between age and grip strength. These findings suggest that higher BMI may be associated with stronger grip strength in both hands among undergraduate students. Moreover, hand dominance significantly influences grip strength. The study underscores the importance of considering these factors when assessing grip strength. However, limitations include the small sample size and the cross-sectional design, warranting caution in generalising the results. Future research should explore these relationships in larger and more diverse populations, employing longitudinal study designs to capture changes over time. Additionally, investigating additional anthropometric variables could provide a more comprehensive understanding of grip strength determinants.