Ignorance of health factors can have fatal consequences

MISCONCEPTIONS about physical activity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) could partially be contributing to the death of many people in South Africa, a University of the Western Cape (UWC) Master’s graduate has found.

NCDs kill millions around the globe annually, and Mpai Rampou, who graduated with her Master’s in Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science in December, found that misconceptions about physical activity and NCDs partially contribute to this scourge.

Her thesis explored the knowledge and perception of youth in a low-resourced community in the Western Cape.

“My results indicated that female youth were reasonably knowledgeable about physical activity. However, they lacked sufficient knowledge with regards to NCDs, indicating that the participants are uninformed about NCDs and their risk factors in their community and local healthcare centres,” Rampou said.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), NCDs are the result of a “combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors”.

They include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

In December world leaders and health experts handed eight recommendations to the WHO director-general in a bid to save the lives of those at risk of NCDs and mental health illnesses.

Rampou said female youths’ socio-economic environment has an impact on their perceptions and decisions made with regards to physical activity, and this encourages them to engage in NCDs risk factors such as unhealthy eating, excessive alcohol use, smoking and physical inactivity.

“The study will go on to inform policy at provincial and national level to provide cost-effective and sustainable educational intervention programmes that address the youth’s misconception on physical activity and NCDs’ risk factors.

“Creation of awareness can positively influence beliefs and promote healthier practices, therefore making it crucial to understand NCDs’ risk factor implications on health, in lieu of combating the onset of NCDs,” she said.

Rampou added that she felt young women in South Africa from disadvantaged communities have the potential to be game-changers in their communities through sport and academia.

“I entered this particular field so I can equip myself with the relevant knowledge and skills to be part of the change and to inspire other young females to do the same,” she said.