South African Girls Research Articles

The relationship between quality of life and compliance to a brace protocol in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis: a comparative study

BackgroundCorrective bracing for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) has favourable outcomes when patients are compliant. However, bracing may be a stressful and traumatic experience and compliance with a bracing protocol is likely to be dependent upon patients' physical, emotional and social wellbeing. The Brace Questionnaire (BrQ), a recently-developed, condition-specific tool to measure quality of life (QOL) has enabled clinicians to study relationships between QOL and compliance.MethodsThe BrQ was administered to 31 AIS patients after a minimum of 1 year of wearing a brace. Subjects were 13–16 year old South African girls with Cobb angles of 25–40 degrees. Participants were divided into two groups according to their level of compliance with the bracing protocol. Brace Questionnaire sub- and total scores were compared between the two groups using the t-test for comparison of means.ResultsTwenty participants were classified as compliant and 11 as non-compliant. Mean total BrQ scores (expressed as a percentage) were 83.7 for the compliant group and 64.4 for the non-compliant group (p < 0.001), and on analysis of the 8 domains that make up the BrQ, the compliant group scored significantly higher in the 6 domains that measured vitality and social, emotional and physical functioning.ConclusionPoor compliance with a brace protocol is associated with poorer QOL, with non-compliant patients lacking vitality and functioning poorly physically, emotionally and socially. Quality of life for adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis may relate more to psychosocial coping mechanisms than to physical deformity and its consequences. It is important to establish whether remedial programmes are capable of addressing personal, group and family issues, improving QOL and promoting compliance.

Temperament Styles of Children from South Africa and the United States

Four bipolar temperament qualities (i.e. extroversion— introversion, practical—imaginative, thinking—feeling and organized— flexible) of 800 South African children, ages 9—10, 11—12, 13—14 and 15—17, first are described and then compared to temperament qualities of 800 US children of the same ages. South African children do not differ in their preferences for extroversion—introversion and more frequently prefer practical to imaginative, feeling to thinking and organized to flexible styles. In contrast to South African boys, South African girls are more likely to prefer extroverted and feeling styles. Two bipolar temperament styles display age changes: practical—imaginative and organized—flexible styles. South African and US children do differ on all four temperament styles. Compared to US children, South African children are more likely to prefer introverted, practical, feeling and organized styles; these differences generally were found between boys and girls from the two countries. Age difference appears on two bipolar temperament qualities between the two countries thinking—feeling and organized—flexible styles.

Preparing for HPV vaccination in South Africa: Key challenges and opinions

This article reports on qualitative research investigating key challenges and barriers towards human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine introduction in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. A total of 50 in-depth interviews and 6 focus groups were conducted at policy, health service and community levels of enquiry. Respondents expressed overall support for the HPV vaccine, underscored by difficulties associated with the current cervical screening programmes and the burgeoning HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa. Overall poor community knowledge of cervical cancer and the causal relationship between HPV and cervical cancer suggests the need for continued education around the importance of regular cervical screening. The optimal target populations for HPV vaccination was influenced by the perceived median age of sexual activity in South African girls (9–15 years), with an underlying concern that high levels of sexual abuse had significantly decreased the age of sexual exposure suggesting vaccination should commence as early as 9 years. Vaccination through schools with the involvement of other stakeholders such as sexual and reproductive health and the advanced programme on immunization (EPI) were suggested. Opposition to the HPV vaccine was not anticipated if the vaccine was marketed as preventing cervical cancer rather than a sexually transmitted infection. The findings assist in identifying potential barriers and facilitating factors towards HPV vaccines and will inform the development of policy and programs to support HPV vaccination introduction in South Africa and other African countries.

Age at menarche and the evidence for a positive secular trend in urban South Africa

Menarcheal age was estimated for 287 (188 Black; 99 White) urban South African girls born in Soweto-Johannesburg in 1990. The median menarcheal age for Blacks was 12.4 years (95% confidence interval (CI) 12.2, 12.6) and 12.5 years (95% CI 11.7, 13.3) for Whites. Data from six studies of menarcheal age, including the current study, were analyzed to examine the evidence for a secular trend between 1956 and 2004 in urban South African girls. There was evidence of a statistically significant secular trend for Blacks, but not Whites. Average menarcheal age for Blacks decreased from 14.9 years (95% CI 14.8, 15.0) in 1956 to 12.4 years (95% CI 12.2, 12.6) in the current study, an average decline of 0.50 years per decade. Fewer data were available for Whites, but average menarcheal age decreased from 13.1 years (95% CI 13.0, 13.2) in 1977 to 12.5 years (95% CI 11.7, 13.3) in the current study, an average decline of 0.22 years per decade. The diminishing age at menarche and the current lack of difference between Blacks and Whites is probably reflective of the continuing nutritional and socio-economic transition occurring within South Africa.

Socio-economic status and menarcheal age in urban African schoolgirls in the Western Cape, South Africa

The impact of different socio-economic levels, height, weight and sum of four skinfolds on the menarcheal age of 302 Black, South African school girls ranging in age from 8 to 17 years was researched. Socioeconomic status was obtained by means of a questionnaire that focused on the education, income, and occupations of the parents of the participants and the accommodation in which they were reared. Menarcheal age was obtained by means of a questionnaire. When restricted to those girls who had reached menarche, the mean age was found to be 14.34 years (SD=0.93). The application of survival analysis revealed an estimated median age of 14.25 years with a 95% confidence interval estimate of 14.08 and 14.58. Based on the log-rank statistic, significant differences were found in the survival curves of the different SES categories (p=0.0098). It was found that lower SES corresponded to curves having longer survival times, i.e. later ages of menarche. Differences were found in weight (p=0.037) and in height (p=0.0042), but no difference in SUM4 (p=0.44), between girls who have reached menarche and those who have not. Keywords: Socio-economic Status; Menarcheal age; South African; School Girls.SAJRSPER Vol. 30 (1) 2008 pp. 117-123

Eating attitudes in a group of 11-year-old urban South African girls

Objectives. To explore and describe eating attitudes in early pubertal 11-year-old black and white South African girls in an urban environment undergoing transition.Design. The study was designed as a cross-sectional baseline initiative within a longitudinal study.Subjects. Two hundred and two subjects were randomly selected; 54 were white and 148 black.Methods. Subjects completed questionnaires, and anthropometric measurements were taken.Outcome measures. Variables included body mass index (BMI), eating attitudes (EAT score), dietary intake, socio-economic status, pubertal status and level of physical activity.Results. As expected, the prevalence rate of abnormal eating attitudes in this group of girls was low (1%). No significant ethnic differences were found in the total EAT scores. White participants displayed greater oral control, while their black peers displayed greater tendencies toward dieting (p = 0.05). Girls who scored higher on the dieting subscale had a larger body size and were more inactive than low dieting scorers (p = 0.05). A relationship between body size measurements and dietary intake was found only in black girls. Traditionally a larger figure is accepted in black culture. However our data suggest a move away from this, indicating acculturation, as awareness of increased body size significantly influenced dieting attitudes. However, scores were within the normal range.Conclusions. There is early evidence suggesting the impact of societal transition on young black girls with regard to eating attitudes. Black girls in this age group are adopting Western ideals of beauty and thinness.

Differences in bone size and bone mass between black and white 10-year-old South African children

Black and white South Africans hail from vastly disparate cultural and socio-economic backgrounds the result of which exposes black children to numerous factors known to impact negatively on bone mass. Thus, we studied ethnic differences in bone size and bone mass between 476 10-year-old black and white South African girls and boys (black boys n=182, white boys n=72, black girls n=158, white girls n=64) who formed part of a longitudinal cohort of children born in Johannesburg, South Africa, during 1990. Bone area (BA) and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured at the whole body, total hip, femoral neck, lumbar spine (L1-L4) and mid- and distal radii by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Vertebral heights and metacarpal indices were measured. Anthropometry, skeletal maturity and pubertal development were also assessed. After correction for height, weight, gender and puberty, black children had greater BMC at the femoral neck (P<0.0001), total hip (P<0.05) and mid-radius (P<0.001) than white children.. At the whole body, lumbar spine, and distal one-third of the radius, there were no differences in BMC between black and white children after correction for differences in body size. After correction for height and puberty, vertebral heights were less in black children than white children, and cortical areas at the second metacarpal were greater in black children. These findings suggest that, at the femoral neck, total hip and mid-radius, these differences are not a result of differences in anthropometry, bone age or pubertal stage, or environmental factors but are most likely to result from genetic differences.

Somatic characteristics and cardiovascular function in stunted rural South African girls aged 8 to 14 years: Ellisras longitudinal growth and health study

No Abstract. African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance Vol. 11(3) 2005: 249-268

Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy of South African High School Boys and Girls

Social cognitive career theory suggests that males and females may not differ in career decision-making self-efficacy, but this statement requires extension of research to high school samples. The Career Decision-making Self-efficacy Scale-Short Form was administered to white South African high school students in Grades 9 to 11, of whom 368 were boys and 494 girls. No significant sex differences were found, suggesting that career interventions based on social cognitive career theory in high school need not be sex-specific in content.

A comparison of South African and Australian girls' performances in the Australian talent search test

A comparison of South African and Australian girls' performances in the Australian talent search test

Stability of somatotypes in 4 to 10 year-old rural South African girls

In 1996, a mixed Ellisras longitudinal study (ELS) was initiated to assess the stability of somatotypes in 408 girls who comprised 99 pre-school and 309 primary school children in Ellisras rural area in the Northern Province of South Africa. The children's somatotype was assessed using the Heath-Carter anthropometric method. Anthropometric dimensions were taken according to the protocol of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). The most stable pre-school and primary school girl had migratory distances (MDs) of 2.6 and 3.4, respectively, while the least stable pre-school and primary school girl had MDs of 17.9 and 24.4, respectively. The mean somatotype of the pre-school children was mesomorph-ectomorph throughout the complete age range, while the mean somatotype of primary school girls was mesomorph-ectomorph for all the age groups except for the 9.5 years group at which it was in the balanced ectomorph. The inter-age partial correlations for endomorphy and ectomorphy were high and significant, but insignificant with regard to mesomorphy.

Pachydermatous eosinophilic dermatitis

We report three South African black teenage girls with extensive pruritic papular lesions arising on a pachydermatous base, resembling severe atopic dermatitis or onchodermatitis. All three had peculiar hypertrophic genital lesions and peripheral blood eosinophilia. Histological studies showed an eosinophil-rich lymphohistiocytic infiltrate and variable fibrosis. Extensive fibrillar extracellular deposition of eosinophil granule major basic protein was demonstrated by an indirect immunofluorescence technique. A beneficial therapeutic effect was obtained using dapsone, prednisolone and cetirizine. The term pachydermatous eosinophilic dermatitis is proposed and its position among other conditions characterized by peripheral blood and skin tissue eosinophilia, is discussed.

Average menarcheal age of higher socioeconomic status urban Cape coloured girls assessed by means of status quo and recall methods.

The age of the onset of menstruation has been determined for the urban middle-class Cape Coloured population. From 1987 to 1992 data were collected from 857 girls aged 8 to 20 years attending primary and secondary schools in Cape Town. The schools were specifically selected for the highest socioeconomic status (SES) of pupils' parents. Three-quarters of parents fell into the higher three categories of the 5-category SES standard. Girls were interviewed with respect to their menarcheal status and those who were postmenarcheal were also asked to report when they had started to menstruate. The probit analysis of the status quo data yielded average of 12.61 years and a standard deviation (s) of 1.25 years. The retrospective method was applied only to recall data of 258 girls falling into fully postmenearcheal categories (16-20 years). It yielded an average of 12.75 (s = 1.32), insignificantly different from that obtained from the probit analysis. The menarcheal age of higher SES Cape Coloured girls is significantly lower than that of white girls in Cape Town (13.30 years) and much lower than that of any group of black South African girls. It falls close to the lower limit of the range reported worldwide. Body heights, weights, and Body Mass Index indicate good growth status of girls studied.

Secondary sexual development of 'Cape Coloured' girls following kwashiorkor.

This report describes the secondary sexual development of 45 'Cape Coloured' female ex-kwashiorkor patients and 43 female controls. All patients were originally seen between five months and four years four months of age, treated and then followed up for 15 years after discharge. Age at menarche was available on 42 ex-patients and 33 controls, and age at peak height velocity (PHV) was available for 30 ex-patients and 15 controls. Maximum likelihood estimates of the mean age at entry to each pubertal stage were made, age at menarche was obtained directly from the subject records and age at PHV was obtained by fitting a non-linear growth function to the data for each subject. All subjects passed through the sequence of pubertal events in the normal order, i.e., no reversals were observed. Ex-patients were generally delayed in relation to controls but there were no significant differences for ages at entry to any of the pubertal stages. The subjects were combined for comparison to equivalent data on British girls. The South African girls were significantly delayed in the development of pubic hair and menarche but showed no significant differences for age at entry or duration of breast development and PHV. It is suggested that lack of delay in breast development may have selective advantages to females living in situations of chronic malnutrition.

Metacarpal bone dimensions in young and aged South African Bantu consuming a diet low in calcium.

Summary Groups of South African Bantu boys and girls of 14 years, compared with local Caucasian children, have lower cortical thickness, cortical score, and crosssection and volume scores for second metacarpal. Yet, when these parameters on groups of aged Bantu men and women, 70-79 years, are compared with published values on corresponding Caucasians, there are no significant differences. Further, aged Bantu have lower prevalences of hip fracture and severe collapse of vertebral bodies. Since a low calcium intake, and in aged Bantu women numerous pregnancies and long lactations, are compatible with satisfactory bone data, it is questioned whether the present insistence on a high calcium intake is justified.

I South Africa—Alert and Advancing

“Carrying the war into Africa” was not spoken regarding guidance, but it well might be. For South African boys and girls are instructed concerning occupations not only while they are in school but also after they have gone out into the world. This unusual care is exercised primarily by the Juvenile Affairs Boards, with the active cooperation of the principals. But how much personal attention can a principal give to a thousand or several thousand students? Here again South Africa is wiser than—some other places. In South Africa there are seldom more than 600 pupils in a school, and most schools have less than half that number.