Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of Namibian football players towards injury prevention

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dc.contributor.advisorManie, Shamila
dc.contributor.advisorBurgess , Theresa
dc.contributor.authorChinyama, Munashe
dc.date.accessioned2026-11-11T14:18:23Z
dc.date.available2026-11-11T14:18:23Z
dc.date.issued2026
dc.date.updated2026-11-10T12:34:40Z
dc.description.abstractBackground Namibian football has substantial support and enthusiastic fan engagement. However, it has been consistently identified that football is associated with significant injury risk, including time-loss injuries that may impact both player careers and team performance. As a result, injury prevention strategies are important across all levels of football. Research that describes injury prevention knowledge and practices among Namibian football players is needed to improve the understanding of factors that may contribute to injury development. Aims and Objectives The aim of the present study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of Namibian football players concerning injury prevention. The specific objectives were to: (a) describe the demographic, training, and performance characteristics of Namibian football players; (b) explore the KAP of these players regarding injury prevention; and (c) identify factors (such as demographics, socioeconomic status, and training) that may be associated with players' KAP of injury prevention. Methods Adult Namibian football players across non-professional, amateur, semi-professional, and professional levels were eligible for inclusion. Football players who lacked access to the internet or WhatsApp, or who did not provide informed consent, were excluded. Participants were recruited via social media platforms and through a study advertisement shared with the Namibian Football Association. A snowball sampling technique was then further employed. Participants were requested to complete a self-developed questionnaire that included information on sociodemographic and training characteristics, and football players' KAP regarding injury prevention. Results Most football players (n = 27, 65.9%) had insufficient knowledge regarding injury prevention. There were no significant differences in knowledge scores between male and female football players. A key finding was the lack of access to information, with most of the football players (n = 24, 58.5%) being unaware of the FIFA 11+ injury prevention programme. Most of the football players reported negative attitudes towards injury prevention, with an average score of 44.3% ± 14.8% (range 11.0% - 72.0%). There were no significant associations between football players' KAP and sociodemographic or training characteristics. Conclusion An important gap in injury prevention knowledge in Namibian football players was identified, as well as inconsistent injury prevention practices. These findings highlight the need for multi-stakeholder educational initiatives that promote player wellness and safety. Further research is needed to understand the injury burden and training loads among Namibian football players. Future studies should explore the KAP regarding injury prevention in youth and academy football players, as this is an important cohort in football development in Namibia.
dc.identifier.apacitationChinyama, M. (2026). <i>Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of Namibian football players towards injury prevention</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,African Centre for Cities. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43931en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationChinyama, Munashe. <i>"Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of Namibian football players towards injury prevention."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,African Centre for Cities, 2026. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43931en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationChinyama, M. 2026. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of Namibian football players towards injury prevention. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,African Centre for Cities. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43931en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Chinyama, Munashe AB - Background Namibian football has substantial support and enthusiastic fan engagement. However, it has been consistently identified that football is associated with significant injury risk, including time-loss injuries that may impact both player careers and team performance. As a result, injury prevention strategies are important across all levels of football. Research that describes injury prevention knowledge and practices among Namibian football players is needed to improve the understanding of factors that may contribute to injury development. Aims and Objectives The aim of the present study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of Namibian football players concerning injury prevention. The specific objectives were to: (a) describe the demographic, training, and performance characteristics of Namibian football players; (b) explore the KAP of these players regarding injury prevention; and (c) identify factors (such as demographics, socioeconomic status, and training) that may be associated with players' KAP of injury prevention. Methods Adult Namibian football players across non-professional, amateur, semi-professional, and professional levels were eligible for inclusion. Football players who lacked access to the internet or WhatsApp, or who did not provide informed consent, were excluded. Participants were recruited via social media platforms and through a study advertisement shared with the Namibian Football Association. A snowball sampling technique was then further employed. Participants were requested to complete a self-developed questionnaire that included information on sociodemographic and training characteristics, and football players' KAP regarding injury prevention. Results Most football players (n = 27, 65.9%) had insufficient knowledge regarding injury prevention. There were no significant differences in knowledge scores between male and female football players. A key finding was the lack of access to information, with most of the football players (n = 24, 58.5%) being unaware of the FIFA 11+ injury prevention programme. Most of the football players reported negative attitudes towards injury prevention, with an average score of 44.3% ± 14.8% (range 11.0% - 72.0%). There were no significant associations between football players' KAP and sociodemographic or training characteristics. Conclusion An important gap in injury prevention knowledge in Namibian football players was identified, as well as inconsistent injury prevention practices. These findings highlight the need for multi-stakeholder educational initiatives that promote player wellness and safety. Further research is needed to understand the injury burden and training loads among Namibian football players. Future studies should explore the KAP regarding injury prevention in youth and academy football players, as this is an important cohort in football development in Namibia. DA - 2026 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Player Safety &amp KW - Wellness KW - Injury Risk &amp KW - Incidence KW - Injury Prevention KW - Knowledge KW - Attitudes and Practices (KAP) KW - Training Load &amp KW - Strain LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2026 T1 - Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of Namibian football players towards injury prevention TI - Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of Namibian football players towards injury prevention UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43931 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/43931
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationChinyama M. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of Namibian football players towards injury prevention. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,African Centre for Cities, 2026 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43931en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentAfrican Centre for Cities
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectPlayer Safety &amp
dc.subjectWellness
dc.subjectInjury Risk &amp
dc.subjectIncidence
dc.subjectInjury Prevention
dc.subjectKnowledge
dc.subjectAttitudes and Practices (KAP)
dc.subjectTraining Load &amp
dc.subjectStrain
dc.titleKnowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of Namibian football players towards injury prevention
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMSc
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