Incidence of football injuries in disadvantaged adolescent male football players in Gauteng, South Africa

Abstract

Football is the most popular sport among male black adolescents in South Africa, many of whom are disadvantaged with limited access to health care. While international studies indicate a high risk, information on football injuries in these players is non-existent. At the same time, potentially aggravated consequences of injuries without adequate care make prevention a priority. According to the “sequence of prevention model”, assessing the incidence, severity, risk factors and mechanisms of injuries is precondition for the development of effective preventive measures. This study was the first to investigate injury epidemiology in disadvantaged African youth. Systematic injury recording proved generally feasible. Injury incidence was comparably low with mostly minor and no severe injuries. Injury characteristics complied with international data. Applying methodological standards as per international consensus definitions in this setting was constrained, resulting in limited comparability and generalizability of results. We question whether sustained injury surveillance is needed at all levels of play since accepting cohort studies in comparable population groups would allow focussing on prevention in disadvantaged settings.