Developing injury prevention strategies based on common injury patterns among secondary school athletes aged 13-19 in Mount Darwin district of Zimbabwe · Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Author

Muza, Sabina

Title

Developing injury prevention strategies based on common injury patterns among secondary school athletes aged 13-19 in Mount Darwin district of Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study identifies at the injury prevention strategies among secondary school athletics within the Mount Darwin district, Zimbabwe, emphasizing the need for context-specific approaches to address rural challenges often overlooked in existing literature. Employing a concurrent mixed methods design, the research integrates quantitative data collected through self-administered questionnaires from 162 athletes (96.3% response rate) and qualitative insights from nine (9) semi-structured interviews with coaches and school administrators. 162 athletes were sampled from a total of 270 using stratified random sampling across six schools. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS (Version 21) for statistical patterns, and qualitative data was coded and analyzed thematically using Nvivo 14, with results visually presented to identify prevalent injury types, contributing factors, and effectiveness of current measures. Analysis revealed muscle cramps, muscle strains, and ankle injuries as the most common among athletes, with causes linked to poor facility quality, inappropriate training methods, substandard equipment, nutritional deficits, and coaching factors. Current prevention strategies, primarily nutrition, equipment use, and health education, are found to be largely ineffective, with limited adoption of periodization and safe facility use. Ultimately, the study underscores the importance of organized training methods, access to quality equipment, secure facilities, and qualified medical staff to enhance athlete safety. Educational initiatives emerge as a pivotal component, advocating for the integration of injury prevention workshops into school curricula to improve athlete understanding of safety measures. To preserve the integrity of the study and honour participants, ethical considerations, including obtaining informed consent, guaranteeing confidentiality, and safeguarding participant privacy, were carefully observed during the whole research process. However, limitations like a small, localized sample and cross-sectional design restrict generalizability. Nonetheless, the study provides valuable, context-specific insights and recommendations aimed at informing policy and practice to improve injury prevention in rural secondary school athletic settings like Mount Darwin, Zimbabwe.

Date

June 2025

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Common Injury Patterns

Secondary School Athletes

Injury Prevention Strategies

Supervisor

Ms. D. Mukwawaya