KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS OF KAKAMEGA COUNTY IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION.

Abstract

Physical activity is a key component in human development and growth, in absence one is exposed to lifestyle conditions. Secondary school students are among the affected group where 81% of children aged 5-18 years do not meet the recommendations hence there is a need to establish why students do not meet those recommendations. The study purpose was to determine the knowledge level and assess the attitude and participation level of physical activity among secondary school students within Kakamega County. Data was collected January 2024 using a questionnaire with a cross-sectional study design. The study employed a multi-stage sampling method combining both non-probability and probability sampling techniques. The targeted population was public secondary school students with a sample size of 422. However, only 412 students participated giving 97% turnover rate. 194 (47.1%) were males, while 218 (52.9%) were female, with majority 110 (26.75) of them being 17 years of age. Highest number of students were from Kakamega High school 128 (31.0%), Ikonyero Secondary School was the least represented with 63 (14.3%). The study findings revealed that majority of the students had fair knowledge and a positive attitude toward physical activity. The results also showed that majority (53%) of the students participated in physical activity. The study also looked at the relationship between knowledge, attitude and practice of physical activity, where a moderately positive correlation was found between the two variables (r=.159, p<0.001) and (r=.178, p<0.001) respectively. Independent t-test was also done to determine the difference between socio demographic characteristics and knowledge and attitude toward physical activity participation. However, the results were insignificant (t (438) = -0.738, p=0.434) in scores for Male (M=2.07, SD=0.690) and Female (M=2.13, SD=0.738) for knowledge and (t (438) = -0.373, p=0.709) in scores for Male (M=2.76, SD=0.691) and Female (M=2.73, SD=0.687) for attitude. To conclude, the study found that most students had fair knowledge and positive attitude toward physical activity as well as participation. However, more emphasis should be put on educating the students about health impacts of engaging in physical activity in both school and home. The study recommends for more sensitization on health impacts of regular physical activity, indoor games as well as behavioral change on physical activity participation.