Voices Magazine-Vol4-Issue

17 January – April 2021 | VOICES Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica Dr. Kamilah Hylton, Dean, Faculty of Science and Sport, led this research project which aimed to characterize current practices and provide data that could be used to guide the development of sporting policies to protect young athletes. Currently there is no standardized system being utilized by our local coaches and there are no regulations in place concerning risk assessment related to the prevention of injuries to, and rehabilitation of, athletes at the secondary school level in Jamaica. Therefore, it is hoped that data from this research will provide evidence required by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport to put proper regulations in place and make determinations about how funding should be allocated so that proper care for athletes is proactive rather than reactive. The research highlighted that: pre-screening for participation in sporting activities is not mandatory for athletes at the secondary school level; hamstring injuries were dominant with shin and groin injuries also being common; athletes ate poorly and coaches struggled with nutrition management, improper footwear and inadequate training surfaces; young athletes undergo an intense training protocol and this coupled with no identification of pre-existing conditions, poor eating habits, and poor equipment, make them susceptible to avoidable injuries; and all coaches indicated gaps that require additional financial support and training to rectify. “Poverty and Obesity: A Paradox in the Caribbean” Professor Fitzroy Henry, Professor of Public Health Nutrition in the College of Health Sciences, led this study to improve understanding of the interaction between poverty, food security and obesity in the Caribbean for the purposes of formulating effective anti-poverty and health enhancing interventions. The study emerged because the trend across the globe shows that as countries develop economically, the prevalence of overweight increased substantially among the poorest and remained mostly unchanged among the rich. “Tertiary Education in Jamaica: Hunger for Knowledge or Food?” Professor Fitzroy Henry also led the RDF-funded research which included students from UTech, Jamaica, University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) and Shortwood Teachers’ College (STC). The study emphasized that the full academic potential of tertiary students in Jamaica is diminished by the struggles to secure tuition and non-tuition financial resources. Principal among student needs is the ability to consume healthy meals regularly. The study found that student hunger is widespread: more than 70% of students worry each month about not having enough food; severe hunger affects 38% and 23% of them cut or skip meals regularly as cost-saving measures. The study concluded that hunger, eating patterns and other factors impact students’ ability to engage in academic discourse and on their performance. Research Projects Funded by the Research Development Fund (RDF) ‘An Investigation into the Preparation of and Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation Programme for High School Athletes in Jamaica’ Dr. Kamilah Hylton Dean, Faculty of Science and Sport Professor Fitzroy Henry Professor of Public Health Nutrition, College of Health Sciences