Institutional Based Reasons for Students Non-participation in Physical Activity and Sport Programs in the Kenyan Public Universities

University environment offers numerous advantages and easy opportunities for improving students’ participation in physical activity and sport. However, there are paucity of researches on the reasons for non-participation in the university physical activity and sport programs in Kenya. The purpose of this study was to establish the institutional based reasons for the students’ non-participation in the universities’ physical activity and sport programs. Cross-sectional survey design was used and data was collected through questionnaires from Sixty-three (33 males, and 30 females) students. Mean standard deviation and graphs respectively, were used to describe and present data. Findings showed that key reasons for non-participation in physical activity and sport programs in the university were inadequate sport facility 74.6%, overcrowded facility 73%, unorganized sport program 63.5%, lack of sport facility 58.7%, lack of sport variety 57.1%, inaccessible facility 49.2%, no coaches 47.6%, unfriendly time for sport 39.7%, unsafe sport equipment 38.1%, inappropriate behaviour of sport personnel 36.5% and 34.9% was due to unskilled sport personnel. Students’ age, year and course of the study influenced non-participation of students in the universities’ sport programs. Also, students’ previous and current participation status confirmed students avoid universities’ sport programs although they participate in the same elsewhere. Diversifying and professionalizing sport and aligning programs with academic schedules would attract students. TRA can be useful in sensitizing students on the benefits of sports. Similar studies with larger student population are necessary.


Introduction
Participation in physical activity and sport is an integral feature of the human life, extending from health promotion (Frantz and Ngambare, 2013), social connectivity (Bartolomeo and Papa, 2017), behavior modeling (Hagger and Chatzisarantis, 2014), economic empowerment (Kirk, 2012), academic performance (Howie and Pate, 2012) and productive labor force (Lechner, 2015). Physical activity and sport is related to increased health benefits such as reduced mortality (Kokkinos, 2012), high levels of self-esteem and low levels of anxiety and stress (Dolenc, 2015). Notwithstanding the benefits of participating in physical activity and sport, the World Health Organization cited a general decline in physical activity across different age groups globally. It revealed that at least 60% of the world`s population failed to meet the recommended amount of physical activity that is required to induce health benefits. Consequently, physical inactivity was classified as the fourth leading risk factor in the global mortality rate after high blood pressure, tobacco use and high blood sugar (World Health Organization, 2018).
In Kenya, the National Physical activity Action Plan 2018-2023 recognized the absence of data regarding physical activity levels in all age groups (Ministry of Health -Kenya, 2018). While university environment offers great opportunity for improving students physical activity and sport participation, research on the reasons for the students' non-participation in the universities' physical activity and sport programs in Kenya would be invaluable not only to the university management but also to the health agencies and national labor work force planners. In 18 Institutional Based Reasons for Students Non-participation in Physical Activity and Sport Programs in the Kenyan Public Universities addition, the knowledge may support interventions for changing students' perception about physical activity and sport in their university life.
A number of determinants are reported to hamper students' participation in the universities' physical activity and sport programs. Empirical evidence suggests that key determinants for non-participating in physical activity and sport are ecological, physiological, social, psychological and transitional (both biological and social) (Maddison, et al. 2009; Richard, Gauvin and Raine 2011). Equally, Breuer, Hallmann and Wicker (2011); Mogaka, Bukhala,and Nguka (2017); Manz, Krug, Schienkiewitz and Finger (2016), observed that determinants of physical activity and sport have been categorized as intra-personal, inter-personal and institutional. Moreover, literature revealed that gender, age, social economic and health status influences participation in physical activity and sport (Elmagd, et al, 2018). Likewise, (Langoien et al (2017); Liangruenrom et al (2019) opined, there were specific reasons accountable to a particular determinant that influence participation in physical activity and sport in the different population categories. Consequently, Allender, Cowburn and Foster (2006); Mchunu (2008) found academic schedules and workload, inadequate and substandard sport facilities, lack of qualified coaches and inappropriate coaches' behaviour as some of the institutional based reasons for non-participation in the universities' physical activity and sport programs. This study evaluated the institutional based reasons that influenced non-participation in the universities' physical activity and sport programs by the Kenya public universities students.
This study was grounded in the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) ( For the purpose of this study, the theory was useful in explaining reasons for non-participation in the universities' physical activity and sport programs. It would therefore be essential in recommending remedial intervention for the non-participation. According to the theory, the underlying reasons for non-participation in the universities' physical activity and sport programs could be traced to the students' beliefs about their life before, during and even after campus. Their perceived significant others and peer support, or their interpretation of their living environment and the social norms in relation to physical activity and sport participation. Therefore, the TRA is essential in explaining the reasons influencing students' choices in conforming or changing their behaviour towards participating in the universities' physical activity and sport programs.

Purpose of the Study
The purpose of the study was to establish the institutional based reasons that influenced non-participation in the universities' physical activities and sports programs by the Kenyan public university students.

Objectives
To evaluate reasons and the influence of' age, birth rank, year of study, course of study and the previous and current sports participation status on non-participation in the public universities' physical activity and sport programs by the students.

Materials and Methods
The target population was the students in the Biological and Physical Sciences, Education and External Studies, Engineering and Architecture, Health Sciences and Humanities and Social Sciences Colleges of the University of Nairobi-Kenya. The study design was cross-sectional survey. The sample size was eighty-four (45 females, 39 males) students but only sixty-three (33 males, and 30 females) duly filled the questionnaire and was used for this study. The Sample selection was via random inquiry of the students' participation status in the universities' physical activity and sports programs. Administration of sample selection was at the end of the lecture during the 7 th week of the second semester of 2017/2018 academic year. The selected students were explained study's purpose when they volunteer by signing the consent form. The instrument for data collection was an adaptation of the Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale (PALMS). The extensive use of PALMS to determine the motives of participating in physical activity and sports for leisure has been useful in producing knowledge in realms of sport  Figure 1 show that students' in age categories 17-19 (36.5%) and 20-22 (52.4% years accounted for majority (89%) of the non-participants in the universities' physical activity and sport programs. The trend of non-participating students seemed to reduce with advancing age category 23-25 (9.5%) and "over 26" (1.6%) years. The finding indicate that age influences non-participation of students' in the universities' physical activity and sport programs. Our findings agrees with (Elmagd, et al, 2018) that age, gender, socio-economic status, knowledge of the sport benefits, attitudes toward sports participation and health factors influence the declining participation rate in physical activity among adolescents and college age students. The finding suggests that the first and the early second year students mostly, do not participate in the universities' physical activity and sports programs. Possibly, the transiting challenges or students unfamiliarity with university environment may influence non-participation. Transition from secondary to university presents students with challenges. Deliens et al (2015) found that students' transition from secondary to university is often accompanied by unhealthy behaviour changes like decreasing physical activity and increasing sedentary behaviour. Therefore, continued education on benefits of sports and awareness of the available physical activity and sport programs may be useful in changing students' attitude towards universities' physical activity and sport programs.  Figure 2 details how students' birth rank influenced their non-participation in the physical activity and sport programs in the Kenyan public universities. Finding of the study does not show any particular trend. It would be essential for further studies with a larger group of students as we could not trace related literature to corroborate our findings. However, in the official blog of the Pathways to the Podium Research Project 2012 reported a high likelihood in the later-born children becoming elite athletes while first-born children becoming pre-elite or non-elite athletes. Older siblings of elite athletes being nearly 2.5 times more likely to have participated in general fitness activities on a regular basis than older sibling of non-elite athletes. Older sibling of elite athletes being more than twice likely to have participated in recreational sports on a regular basis than older sibling of non-elite athletes. Younger sibling of elite athletes being nearly 4 times more likely to have participated in competitive sport on a regular basis than younger sibling of non-elite athletes, and, siblings of elite athletes being more likely to have participated in competitive sport at the elite and pre-elite levels than sibling of non-elite athletes.  Figure 3 describes students' non-participation in the universities' physical activity and sports programs according to the year of study. The finding shows that majority (71.4%) of the non-participating students were in the first (34.9%) and fourth (36.5) year of study. Still, the finding show a declining trend of students' non-participation between second (12.7%), third (6.3%), fifth (3.2%) and sixth (1.6%) year. It is therefore evident that most non-participating students' in the universities' physical activity and sports programs are first and fourth years. In addition, students' non-participation in the university sports programs seem to decline with advancing year of study. In a similar study in china (Abdullah, Wong, Yam & Fielding, 2005) also did report conclusive findings. Since, we could not locate much literature to corroborate our finding; we suggest similar studies with a larger sample size. that the course of study; Bachelor of arts (31.7%), Bachelor of education arts (31.7%), Bachelor of science (14.3%), Bachelor of education Science (7.9%) Bachelor of Science Civil engineering (7.9%), Bachelor of law (3.2%) and Bachelor of medicine (3.2%) influenced students' non-participation in the universities sports programs in the Kenyan public universities. Although not precisely related, Calisine et al, 2017 alluded that students course load is was negatively associated with vigorous physical activity. We suggest for further studies with larger group of students to corroborate the findings of this study. In Figure 5 details the students' status on physical activity and sports participation. After securing information on the students' non-participation in the universities physical activity and sports programs status. We sought further about their physical activity and sports participation status currently. The finding showed that while they did not participate in the university based physical activity and sports programs, majority of the students (69.8%) agreed they participated in physical activity and sports. This study did not inquire how or where they participated in the activities. We suggest for a study to determine other source of the physical activity and sports programs for the university students in the Kenyan public universities. The details of figure 6 described the students' previous participation in sports. The findings indicated that majority (81%) of the students' non-participating in the universities' physical activity and sports programs, initially participated in physical activities and sports. These findings may be of concern to the university management as to the reasons for sudden change of sports participation in the university. Nevertheless, our finding confirms ( (Elmagd, et al, 2018) observations that participation in sports among college age students is declining. Figure 6. The students' previous participation in the physical activity and sports Figure 7 described the frequency of participating in sports among students who do not participate in the universities' physical activity and sports programs. The findings indicated that (52.4%) participated once a week, while only (19%) reported to be involved twice and three times a week respectively. The findings showed that students who did not participate in the universities' physical activity and sports programs also, did not do physical activities enough number of times per week to induce health benefits (WHO, 2018).  Figure 8 details the institutional based reasons for the students' non-participation in the Kenyan public universities' physical activity and sports programs. The responses were measured a five Likert scale but since our aim was to report on agreement/disagreement status of the students reasons for non-participation in sports, it was condensed to three steps agree, no idea and disagree. According to the findings, most students agreed inadequate sports facility 74.6%, overcrowded facility 73%, unorganized sport programs 63.5%, lack of sports facility 58.7%, lack of sports variety 57.1%, and inaccessible facility 49.2%, no coaches 47.6%, as the key factors influencing their non-participation. However, they disagreed with unsafe facility 65.1%, sport facilities are far from the residence (58.7%), unfriendly sports programs (55.6%), high entry fees (41.3%) and unfriendly playing times (44.4%) influence for their non-participation in the universities' physical activity and sports programs. Our finding supports Summersets & Hoare (2018) that accessibility to sport facility is a barrier to voluntary sports participation among children under 18 years. Other authors have reported similar finding. Charlton et al, (2010), reported that among the external barriers to physical activity, the most obvious influence on participation lies beyond control of the individual. They cited physical environment cleanliness and safety, design of the facility to accommodate everyone even persons with special needs, closeness of facility to residents, quality of service provision and ease of access to reliable up-to-date information about services that promote awareness and the intention to participate in sports as the key external factors.

Conclusions
According to the findings, students' age, year and course of the study influence participation in the universities' physical activity and sports programs. That inadequate sports facility, overcrowded facility, unorganized sport programs, lack of sports facility, lack of sports variety, inaccessible facility and lack of coaches were the specific institutional based reasons that influence non-participation in the Kenyan public universities' physical activity and sport programs.

Recommendations for Implementation and Further Studies
The university management needs to provide adequate sporting infrastructure, create awareness of the available sport programs, provide qualified sport personnel and align co-curricular activities with the academic schedule. Physical activity and sport programs need to be structured according to gender, year and the course of study of students. TRA can be useful in isolating sporting needs of the students in the university. 22 Institutional Based Reasons for Students Non-participation in Physical Activity and Sport Programs in the Kenyan Public Universities Studies to establish social, psychological, technical and economic determinants of students' who do not participate in the universities' physical activity and sport programs are necessary.