Rosa du Randt

Nelson Mandela University | NMMU · Department of Human Movement Sciences

Background Despite the uncontested benefits of physical activity, its promotion lags behind in the public health agenda of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). School-based interventions are promising strategies to foster health during childhood, but evidence of their effectiveness is limited and inconclusive for LMICs. Thus, further investiga...

Despite the acknowledged advantages of physical activity, its prioritization among public health initiatives of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is still lacking. School-centered approaches show promise in enhancing childhood health, yet their effectiveness in LMICs lacks clear evidence. Consequently, further exploration into contextual fac...

Globally, physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for non-communicable diseases. Combined with overstretched health systems, this trend is particularly worrying in Africa, where physical inactivity among adolescents is alarmingly high at 85.4% and is estimated to cause over 200,000 deaths every year. Nurturing our children’s physical...

Background/Aim School-aged children in low- and middle-income countries carry the highest burden of intestinal helminth infections, such as soil-transmitted helminths (STH). STH infections have been associated with negative consequences for child physical and cognitive development and wellbeing. With the epidemiological transition and rise in cardi...

The burden of non-communicable diseases is increasing, with risk factors emerging early in life. Physical activity reduces cardiovascular risk, but limited evidence exists for children from lower-income countries and mostly relies on self-reported methods that might be inaccurate and biased. We aimed to compare self-reported and accelerometer-measu...

The KaziKidz toolkit (with open access from https://kazibantu.org/kazikidz/) is a holistic educational and instructional tool for pre-primary and primary school teachers and arose from the project KaziBantu. The lessons have been designed in conjunction with the Namibian curriculum. The aim is to motivate learners through content, games and activit...

The ‘Moving-to-Music’ lessons (with open access from https://kazibantu.org/kazikidz/) are designed to support teachers to develop personal, physical and psychological skills through dance and movement experiences. With the ready-made lessons, teachers are empowered to teach dance and conduct dance lessons in a school setting with bigger class sizes...

While neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) do not feature prominently in the burden of disease statistics of Namibia, some NTDs are common in disadvantaged populations, expecially in children growing up in poor neighbourhoods. Chronic helminth infections (worms) not only cause morbidity, but also negatively affect the cognitive and physical developme...

Introduction Risk factors for noncommunicable diseases such as insufficient physical activity (PA), overweight or hypertension are becoming increasingly predominant among children globally. While school-based interventions are promising preventive strategies, evidence of their long-term effectiveness, especially among vulnerable populations, is sca...

This study aimed to determine the effects of a 20-week school-based intervention programme on non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors of children from low-income schools in Gqeberha, South Africa. A cluster randomised control trial was used to test the intervention, which included three components, namely the [1] KaziKidz toolkit, [2] a physica...

The conversation was held with the UNESCO team Namibia (https://en.unesco.org/fieldoffice/windhoek), currently led by Mr Djaffar Moussa-Elkadhum (UNESCO representative in Namibia), with the aim of introducing each to the other team and updating them on current activities; as well as identifying potential synergies where mutual support can be provid...

Objective: Risk factors for chronic diseases such as insufficient physical activity (PA), overweight or hypertension are getting more predominant among children. While school-based interventions are promising preventive strategies, evidence of their long-term effectiveness, especially among vulnerable populations is scarce. KaziKidz is a physical...

Background/Aim: School-aged children in low- and middle-income countries carry the highest burden of intestinal helminth infections, such as soil-transmitted helminths (STH). STH infections have been associated with negative consequences for child physical and cognitive development and wellbeing. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the ass...

Background: Over the past decades, childhood overweight has increased in many African countries. We examined the relationship between sedentary behaviour, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and body composition in South African primary schoolchildren living in peri-urban settings. Methods: MVPA was measured via 7-day accelerometry and b...

“The KaziBantu model (Healthy Schools for Healthy Communities)” aims to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles in public primary schools through two complementary programs: KaziKidz, a physical education toolkit for schoolchildren, and KaziHealth, a workplace health intervention program for teachers (project website: https://www.kazibantu...

Backgound The disease profile of low- to middle-income countries is moving towards one seen in Westernised countries, where deaths are mainly attributed to chronic diseases. Children develop risk factors at a young age predisposing them to noncommunicable diseases in adulthood. Most of the risk factors are preventable through healthy lifestyles. Re...

Executive functions (EFs) are essential for optimal academic development. Appropriate nutrition and physical activity (PA) have been shown to facilitate optimal cognitive development. Therefore, this study examined whether a 12-week school-based PA and multi-micronutrient supplementation (MMNS) intervention would improve cognitive and academic perf...

Objectives To determine the prevalence of individual cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and clustered CVD risk among children attending schools in periurban areas of Gqeberha and to investigate the independent association between clustered CVD risk, moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Methods B...

Characteristics of reference populations and normative tables. Data also available at: Arnaiz, Patricia, Müller, Ivan, Seelig, Harald, Gerber, Markus, Bosma, Jacob, Dolley, Danielle, Adams, Larissa, Degen, Jan, Gall, Stefanie, Joubert, Nandi, Nienaber, Madeleine, Nqweniso, Siphesihle, Aerts, Ann, Steinmann, Peter, du Randt, Rosa, Walter, Cheryl, U...

Introduction: Hypertension in children has increased globally over the past 20 years; yet, little is known about this issue among disadvantaged communities from low- and middle-income countries. Age-, sex-, and height-adjusted normative tables are the “gold” standard for the diagnosis and estimation of pediatric hypertension worldwide, but it is un...

Often school educators appointed to teach physical education (PE) are non-specialists and lack the understanding and confidence to adequately teach the content. According to teaching staff the implementation of quality physical education (QPE) is not feasible with the current curricular, resource and PE-trained teacher constraints. In some lower qu...

This 16 page document: "Supplementary Material" contains additional methods and results.

Introduction: Available data within LMICs indicate that the disease profile is moving towards a profile seen in more Westernised countries, where more deaths are being attributed to chronic NCDs. With most of the risk factors preventable through healthy lifestyle behaviours, more emphasis needs to be placed on primary prevention strategies. One way...

Objectives: Muscular strength represents a specific component of health-related fitness. Hand grip strength (HGS) is used as an indicator for musculoskeletal fitness in children. HGS can also be used as a marker of cardiometabolic risk, but most available HGS data are derived from Western high-income countries. Therefore, this study examines whethe...

Background The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing among African children potentially predisposing them to greater obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in adulthood. This risk may be higher among growth-impaired children who may have greater fat mass. Therefore, we examined the effects of school-based physical activity (PA) p...

Background: Inconsistent data exist regarding the influence of parasitic infection on the prevalence of allergic sensitization and disorders. Objective: To investigate the impact of geohelminth and protozoan infections on sensitization patterns and allergic symptoms of children living in low-income communities in Gqeberha, South Africa. Methods...

The novelty of the results falls upon the little evidence on the prevalence of hypertension among children in Sub-Saharan Africa and the variability of results in the literature, partially due to the different approaches that exist for collecting and analyzing blood pressure data. Currently, normative tables derived from a population of nearly 50,0...

Background: Childhood hypertension drives hypertension in later life; hence, assessing blood pressure in children is an important measure to determine current and future cardiovascular health. There is, however, a paucity of childhood blood pressure data, particularly for sub-Saharan Africa. Purpose: This study explores blood pressure and associat...

Information on COVID-19-related school suspensions and closures in South Africa and in the Gqeberha region, formerly known as Port Elizabeth

10 Years of Collaboration: Healthy Schools for Healthy Communities. For the past 10 years, the Department of Human Movement Science at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth, South Africa) and the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health of the University of Basel have been working closely together. This collaboration includ...

Introduction: The prevalence of chronic, lifestyle-related diseases is increasing among both adults and children from low- and middle-income countries. Despite the effectiveness of community-based interventions to address this situation, the benefits thereof may disappear in the long-term, due to a lack of maintenance, especially among disadvantage...

Being physically active contributes to the development of physical competence and fitness as well as to the child’s cognitive, social and emotional development. Physical Education (PE) plays a crucial role in the holistic education and development of children. Yet, in many schools from marginalised neighbourhoods, PE is not given the recognition an...

Background: Physical inactivity and low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are independent cardiovascular risk factors among children, but have rarely been investigated concurrently in sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this study was to compare physical activity (PA) and CRF of primary schoolchildren living in Côte d'Ivoire (CI), South Africa (ZA), a...

(1) Background: Early childhood malnutrition may result in increased fat mass (FM) among school-aged children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We explored whether South African children with shorter stature have greater overall and abdominal FM compared to normal stature children. (2) Methods: Baseline assessments of body composition an...

Background: Little is known whether physical activity (PA)-promoting environments are equally accessible to children with divergent socioeconomic status (SES) in low-/middle-income countries. The authors, therefore, examined whether South African children from poorer versus wealthier families living in marginalized communities differed in moderate...

Background: South African (SA) children from disadvantaged communities are plagued by a double burden of under- and over-nutrition. The resulting overweight and obesity on the one hand, and stunting on the other, are risk factors for chronic diseases in adulthood. Objective: To determine the effect of school-based interventions on body composition...

Childhood hypertension drives hypertension in later life; hence, assessing blood pressure in children is an important measure to determine current and future cardiovascular health. There is, however, a paucity of childhood blood pressure data, particularly for sub-Saharan Africa. This study explores blood pressure and associations with age, sex, so...

BACKGROUND: South African (SA) children from disadvantaged communities are plagued by a double burden of under- and over-nutrition. The resulting overweight and obesity on the one hand, and stunting on the other, are risk factors for chronic diseases in adulthoodOBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of school-based interventions on body composition of...

Background Cardiovascular fitness has been associated with both executive function and academic achievement in multiple cohort studies including children and adolescents. However, research is scarce among children from low- and middle-income countries. Hence, this paper focuses on South African primary schoolchildren living in marginalized areas an...

Childhood stunting can have negative long-term consequences on cognitive development, academic achievement, and economic productivity later in life. We determined the prevalence of stunting and examined whether stunting and associated risk factors (low dietary diversity, insufficient hemoglobin, food insecurity, and soil-transmitted helminth (STH)...

The coexistence of multiple cardiovascular risk factors has been reported in school-aged children from the age of nine years, but most evidence stems from high-income countries. This cross-sectional study aimed at describing the cardiovascular health risk, physical activity (PA) behavior and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels of South African p...

Physical Education (PE) is a part of a balanced holistic curriculum in schools. There is scientific evidence that PE contributes to the healthy development of learners, improves their academic performance and promotes their joy of life in the school setting. The main goals of this project here are closely connected to UNESCO’s sustainable developme...

While neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) do not feature prominently in the burden of disease statistics of South Africa, some NTDs are common in disadvantaged populations, especially in children growing up in poor neighborhoods. Moreover, the general wellbeing of primary schoolchildren from poor neighbourhoods may also be affected by lack of nutrit...

Physical Education (PE) plays a critical role in the education of a child and schools can make a meaningful contribution to the goal of achieving the recommended daily physical activity WHO guidelines by incorporating PE lessons into the school curriculum. The KaziKidz toolkit (with open access on https://kazibantu.org/kazikidz/) is a holistic educ...

Physical Education (PE) plays a critical role in holistic childhood education and development. To be physically active contributes to the development of physical competence and fitness, as well as to the cognitive, social and emotional development of the child. PE plays a critical role in the education of a child, whereas schools can make a meaning...

Background: Information about the relationships between physical fitness, body composition and nutrition has increased in recent years; however, little is known about physical fitness and the coexistence of under-/overnutrition among children living in disadvantaged areas. Objectives: To determine the physical fitness status and its association wi...

Introduction: Regular physical activity is associated with multiple health benefits for children. Evidence from cross-sectional studies suggests that physical activity is positively associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The promotion of physical activity, and hence HRQoL, through a school-based intervention is therefore an importa...

Background/Aim: Physical inactivity is a growing global health problem and evidence suggests that physical inactivity is a key driver for cardiovascular and chronic diseases. Recent data from South Africa revealed that only about half of the children achieved recommended daily physical activity levels. Assessing the intensity of physical activity i...

Hypertension and overweight are growing public health concerns in school-aged children. We examined whether cardiorespiratory fitness and sport participation contribute to the prevention of hypertension and overweight. We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial with 853 children aged 8-13 years in eight primary schools in Port Elizabeth, So...

Background: In low- and middle-income countries, infectious diseases remain a key public health issue. Additionally, non-communicable diseases are a rapidly growing public health problem that impose a considerable burden on population health. One way of addressing this dual disease burden is to incorporate (lifestyle) health promotion measures with...

The aim of the KaziHealth project is to develop and evaluate the effect of a school-based, lifestyle health intervention programme on primary school teachers in disadvantaged communities from Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

The aim of the study is to assess the impact of a school- based health intervention package on risk factors for non- communicable diseases, health behaviours and psychosocial health in primary schoolchildren in marginalized communities in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

This study aims to examine the growth, health and well-being of schoolchildren in grades 1 to 4 in marginalized communities and then evaluate the impact of an intervention that combines multi-micronutrient supplementation with physical activity.

Background: The burden of poverty-related infectious diseases remains high in low- and middle-income countries, while noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are rapidly gaining importance. To address this dual disease burden, the KaziBantu project aims at improving and promoting health literacy as a means for a healthy and active lifestyle. The project im...

BACKGROUND The burden of poverty-related infectious diseases remains high in low- and middle-income countries, while non-communicable diseases are rapidly gaining importance. To countermeasure this dual disease burden, the KaziBantu project aims at improving and promoting health literacy as a means for a healthy and active lifestyle. The project im...

Background: The burden of poverty-related infectious diseases remains high in low- and middle-income countries, while noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are rapidly gaining importance. To address this dual disease burden, the KaziBantu project aims at improving and promoting health literacy as a means for a healthy and active lifestyle. The project i...

All‐out exercise testing (AOT) has emerged as a method for quantifying critical speed (CS) and the curvature constant (D′). The AOT method was recently validated for shuttle running yet how that method compares with linear running is unknown. In the present study, we utilized a novel bi‐exponential model that derives CS and D′ with additional new p...

Purpose All-out, non-steady state running makes for difficult comparisons regarding linear and shuttle running; yet such differences remain an important distinction for field-based sports. The purpose of the study was to determine whether an energetic approach could be used to differentiate all-out linear from shuttle running. Methods Fifteen male...

Obesity-related conditions impose a considerable and growing burden on low- and middle-income countries, including South Africa. We aimed to assess the effect of twice a 10-week multidimensional, school-based physical activity intervention on children’s health in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. A cluster-randomised controlled trial was implemented f...

Supplementary Material

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of a 20-week school-based physical activity intervention program on academic performance and selective attention among disadvantaged South African primary school children. DESIGN: Cluster randomized control trial. METHODS: The study cohort included 663 children from eight primary schools, aged 8-13 years. Data ass...

Purpose:: To compare critical speed (CS) derived from all-out testing (AOT) for linear and shuttle running with metrics from a graded exercise test (GXT), the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (YYIR1), and estimation of an 800-m shuttle time-trial. Methods: Twelve male rugby players completed a GXT, YYIR1, a linear AOT, shuttle AOTs of 25- and 50...

How parameters derived from oxygen uptake kinetics relate to critical speed is not fully understood, and how such parameters relate to more sport-specific performances, such as shuttle running, has not been investigated. Therefore, the primary aims of the present student were to examine the kinetics during all-out linear and shuttle running and com...

People from low- and middle-income countries still face challenges stemming from parasitic infections. Additionally, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors are rapidly increasing, which puts South African children at an elevated risk of a dual disease burden, with negative consequences for child development and wellbeing. Contrasti...

Background: Low- and middle-income countries are facing a dual disease burden with infectious diseases (e.g., gastrointestinal tract infections) and non-communicable diseases (e.g., diabetes) being common. For instance, chronic parasite infections lead to altered immune regulatory networks, anemia, malnutrition, and diarrhea with an associated shi...

Association between gastrointestinal tract infections and glycated hemoglobin in school children of poor neighborhoods in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. (DOC)

Adjusted estimate of average change in HbA1c (follow-up minus baseline) among children infected at baseline and visiting schools without lifestyle intervention, omitting adjustment for potential mediators and correlated outcomes. (DOCX)

Plot of individual baseline HbA1c results versus date of examination, body temperature and ambient temperature in all schools. (PDF)

Distribution of prediabetes and diabetes based on HbA1c cutoff1 at baseline, by gender. (PDF)

Demographic profile of participants and HbA1c assessment. (PDF)

Adjusted association of helminth infections and HbA1c measurement at baseline, omitting adjustment for potential mediators and correlated outcomes. (PDF)

Adjusted association of helminth infections and HbA1c measurement at baseline—DM cases excluded. (PDF)

Multiple Component Analysis (MCA) of SES of the participants. (PDF)

HbA1c measurements in control probes integrated into baseline and 6-month follow up assessment. (PDF)

Adjusted association of A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura infection intensities and HbA1c measurement at baseline. (PDF)

Achieving proficient fundamental movement skills (FMS) and subsequently optimising participation in physical activity (PA) may be affected by individual constraints such as being overweight or obese. A cross-sectional study design employing convenience sampling and quantitative assessment techniques was undertaken to evaluate the weight, height and...

Purpose: The relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical activity (PA), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) among disadvantaged communities in low- and middle-income countries is poorly understood. In South Africa, children from socioeconomically deprived households are at an elevated risk of sedentary lifestyles and poor...

Risk maps facilitate discussion among different stakeholders and provide a tool for spatial targeting of health interventions. We present maps documenting shrinking risk profiles after deworming with respect to soil-transmitted helminthiasis among schoolchildren from disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Children were examin...

Background Socioeconomically deprived children are at increased risk of ill-health associated with sedentary behavior, malnutrition, and helminth infection. The resulting reduced physical fitness, growth retardation, and impaired cognitive abilities may impede children’s capacity to pay attention. The present study examines how socioeconomic status...

STROBE checklist. (DOCX)

Background: Socioeconomically deprived children are at increased risk of ill-health associated with sedentary behavior, malnutrition, and helminth infection. The resulting reduced physical fitness, growth retardation, and impaired cognitive abilities may impede children’s capacity to pay attention. The present study examines how socioeconomic statu...

Poor fundamental movement skills (FMS) proficiency can contribute to a decrease in participation in energy-expending recreational and sporting endeavours. Against the backdrop of the increasing obesity epidemic, ensuring that these foundational motor skills are established in childhood is justified. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sta...

Background: Albendazole is one of two standard drugs for the control of soil-transmitted helminthiasis. Methods: A total of 149 schoolchildren from Port Elizabeth, South Africa, were examined for soil-transmitted helminth infections using duplicate Kato-Katz thick smears before and 2 weeks after administration of albendazole (400 mg). Results:...