An assessment of health-related fitness levels among students of senior high schools in Ada of Greater Accra Region of Ghana

Abstract

The fitness level of students from three Senior High School in the Dangme East of the Greater Accra Region was checked. The researcher used the test items of the Prudential Fitnessgram to carry out this assignment. Out of a population of 1,050 who were between the ages of 15 and 16 in the three Senior High School, a sample size of sixty was selected through the random sampling technique. Each School was represented by ten boys and ten girls. Each subject was physically tested on each of the five components of fitness. Muscular endurance and strength, cardiovascular endurance, body composition and flexibility. Three days were used in each school for the test. Flexibility and body composition were catered for in day one followed by muscular strength and endurance the second day then one kilometer run completed the test. Quasi-Experiment which learns itself to this kind of research was what the researcher employed. Data collected was analyzed. The mean and the standard deviation for the population and for each health-related component were determined. A fitnessgram was then established according to their performance. The researcher compared the strength and weakness of the students established fitnessgram. It was recommended that students should be encouraged to participate in regular physical education activities and the benefits of participation in such activities made known to them. Health-related fitness assessment should be made a regular feature of the Public School Programme. It was also suggested that other researchers in Ghana be made to research into the topic in other parts of the country so as to build a national Health-Related fitness Norms and HFZ levels for Ghanaian Students.