Coverage from medical teams and injury/illness epidemiology within youth athletics in Africa: A prospective study during the 2023 African Youth Under 18/20 Athletics Championships

Objectives

To describe athletes' coverage by national medical teams, and injuries and illnesses occurring during the four weeks before and during the 2023 African Youth Under 18/20 Athletics Championships.

Design

Cross-sectional and prospective cohort study design.

Methods

We conducted a study with data collection of: 1) national medical teams, 2) injury and illness complaints during the four weeks preceding the championships using an online pre-participation health questionnaire, and 3) newly incurred in-championship injuries and illnesses collected by national medical teams and the local organising committee using daily standardised online report forms, for all registered athletes at the championships.

Results

Among the 43 countries participating at the championships, 15 (34.9 %) countries had a medical team with at least one medical personnel. Of the 15 countries, 6 (40.0 %) countries had at least one physiotherapist and one physician, 4 (26.7 %) countries had only physiotherapist(s), and 5 (33.3 %) countries had only physician(s). Nine (60 %) countries participated in the injury surveillance study, including 397 athletes: 61 (15.4 %) completed the pre-participation health questionnaire and 11 athletes (18.0 %) reported an injury complaint and 6 (9.8 %) an illness complaint during the four weeks before the championships. During the championships, there were 52.9 injuries and 50.4 illnesses per 1000 registered athletes. The main injury location was the thigh (33.3 %), and the main injury type was the muscle (47.6 %). The most common system affected by illness was the upper respiratory tract (55.0 %), and the main illness cause was idiopathic (50.0 %).

Conclusions

This preliminary study provides foundational information to improve medical coverage and services during international championships, and orient injury/illness prevention in youth athletics across Africa.