Browsing by Author "Kiplamai, Festus"

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    Differences Between Health- and Skill-Related Physical Fitness Profiles of Kenyan Children from Urban and Rural Areas: The Kenya-LINX Project
    (Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 2025-04) Kinuthia, Stanley Kagunda; Stratton, Gareth; Wachira, Lucy Joy; Okoth, Victor; Owino, George Evans; Ochola, Sophie; Amie, Bethan Richards; Kiplamai, Festus; Onywera, Vincent; Swindell, Nils
    Physical fitness is a key indicator of children’s health, yet amidst rising inactivity and obesity, data on Kenyan children are scarce. This study assessed health- and skill-related fitness differences between rural and urban Kenyan children while examining demographic influences. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), BMI, strength, flexibility, speed, agility, and coordination were assessed in 1131 children aged 11.07 ± 0.9 years (52.7% girls) recruited using stratified cluster random sampling. Significant rural–urban disparities were observed. In urban areas, 16.6% were overweight and 2.8% obese, compared to 4% and 0.6% in rural areas (p < 0.001). Conversely, 44.5% of the rural cohort were underweight versus 13.7% urban cohort (p < 0.001). Multivariable regression revealed that rural children demonstrated superior CRF (β = −4.68 laps, p < 0.001) and lower back flexibility (β = −2.77 cm, p < 0.001), while urban children excelled in speed and coordination (β = 3.68 bounces, p < 0.001) and grip strength (β = 2.16 kg, p < 0.001). Boys outperformed girls in explosive leg power (β = −6.75 cm, p < 0.001) and CRF (β = −6.92 laps, p < 0.001). These findings highlight fitness inequities among Kenyan children, emphasising the need for equitable, targeted, and inclusive physical activity opportunities.
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    Effects of an eight-week aerobics programme on the cardiorespiratory endurance of Kenyan female university students
    (International Journal of Physical Education, Sports and Health, 2024) Too, Abraham; Goodwin, Yasmin; Kiplamai, Festus
    It is globally recognized that Physical Activity (PA) plays a critical role in health, especially energy expenditure, energy balance and body composition. The absence of physical activity has been identified as a leading causative factor in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the world, resulting in disability and death among young adults and the aged. Due to technological advancement, different forms of exercise have emerged. Aerobics or Aerobic dance, which activates a variety of muscles, is gaining great popularity among young women because moving to music is enjoyable and sociable. The current research focused on effects of an eight-week aerobics programme on the Cardiorespiratory Endurance amongst Kenyan female university students. An experimental research design was used in this research such that there was a pre-test administered to all the participants, followed by an eight-week aerobics treatment programme administered to the experimental group only and culminated in a post-test administered to all the participants. In this research, an eight-week Aerobics programme served as the independent factor. The assessments covered Cardiorespiratory Endurance as an element of physical fitness linked to well-being. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 22). Paired t-tests were utilized to compare means pre and post-treatment, with descriptive statistics used to calculate means, percentages, frequencies, and standard deviations for each variable. All hypotheses were tested at the 0.05 alpha level. The pre-test in the study enabled an insight into the existing health status of the female university students. The positive post-tests revelations provide evidence for the introduction and implementation of Aerobics programmes in higher institutions of learning in support of Cardiorespiratory Endurance status among female students. That would consequently minimizing the cost of medical treatment for non-communicable and general lifestyle diseases. Keywords: Aerobics, cardiorespiratory endurance, physical activity