"It Is Like Medicine": Using Sports to Promote Adult Women's Health in Rural Kenya

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Sports Medicine
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• Limited opportunities for adult women's recreational physical activity in low- and middle-income countries.
• Recreational sports offer documented health benefits, yet access remains a challenge for many women.
• The Nikumbuke Project in rural Kenya addresses health and literacy needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the association between an innovative soccer program for adult women and their self-reported health status.
• To investigate the perceived health benefits of recreational soccer participation among women in rural Kenya.
• To assess the potential of soccer programs as health interventions in underserved populations.

Main Methods:

• Explanatory sequential mixed methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data.
• Cross-sectional survey data collected from 702 women (2018-2019).
• Focus group discussions with 225 women participating in the soccer program.

Main Results:

• Women participating in soccer had 67% greater odds of reporting good or excellent health compared to non-participants.
• Qualitative data revealed soccer reduced pain, fatigue, stress, and dependence on medication.
• Participants associated health benefits with increased energy, strength, and efficiency in daily tasks.

Conclusions:

• Soccer programs for adult women can be effective health interventions, particularly where healthcare access is limited.
• Recreational aerobic activity, like soccer, can mitigate health risks associated with inactivity in women.
• The program demonstrated positive impacts on physical health, mental well-being, and daily functioning.