Dr Siphesihle Nqweniso

Dr Siphesihle Nqweniso is a Lecturer and Biokineticist at the Department of Human Movement Science. Her research lies in child health, with a particular focus on cardiovascular disease risk factors and physical activity intervention implementation among schoolchildren from marginalised communities. Siphesihle's research has focused on the implementation of multidimensional school-based interventions and the training of physical education teachers to enhance physical activity and health outcomes in children.

She has been involved in the KaziBantu long standing 10-year collaboration project (www.kazibantu.org) with the University of Basel, and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, where they developed a school-based health intervention (KaziKidz toolkit). Her research contributions are reflected in over 30 publications and she has presented at national and international conferences, showcasing her commitment to advancing the understanding and promotion of physical activity for children’s health (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Siphesihle-Nqweniso). Siphesihle is currently supervising undergraduate and master’s students, guiding research in various areas including physical activity, body composition and blood pressure in children and adults. She is also a member of the editorial board for BMC Public Health.

Dr Nqweniso's teaching portfolio involves the adoption of interactive and student-centered teaching approaches, aiming to create an engaging and supportive learning environment.

Designation:

Lecturer

Email:

siphesihle.nqweniso@mandela.ac.za

Contact Number: 

0415044630

Faculty:

Health Sciences

Department:

Human Movement Science

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Human Movement Science, BA Honours (Biokinetics), MA (HMS), DPhil (HMS)

Professional Memberships:

HPCSA

Orcid ID:

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8793-9624

NRF Rating: 

N/A

Research Interests:

  • My research focuses on the understanding and promotion of physical activity for health, especially among schoolchildren from marginalised communities. Through my doctoral research, I made valuable contributions to understanding and promoting the well-being of children, addressing important aspects such as physical activity, cardiovascular risk factors and overall wellness. My research interests have also extended to the training of physical education teachers as a means to promoting physical activity and health in children.

Current non-degree Research Projects:

  1. The KaziBantu short learning (SLP) programme for physical education teachers study titled "Effect of SACE-Accredited Foundation Phase and Intermediate/Senior Phase Physical Education Short Learning Programmes on the Quality of Physical Education Teaching at Selected Schools in Gqeberha"

  2. The Childhood Hypertension Consortium of South Africa study titled "National blood pressure screening in children to optimise clinical management of paediatric hypertension in South Africa"

Current Final Year Undergraduate/Honours Research Projects:

  1. One final year undergraduate supervision- Blood Pressure and Associated Risk Factors in 6–10-Year-old Primary School Children in Gqeberha (Mabusela, E, Maloka, P and Hlabangwane, N).

Number of currently supervised Masters and PhD candidates (2023 to 2024):

  • Masters: 4

  • PhD: 0

Research Output 2023 to 2024:

  1. Arnaiz, P., Bergman, M., Seelig, H., Gerber, M., Nqweniso, S., Utzinger, J., Pühse, U., Müller, I. et al. (2024). Acceptability and perceived feasibility of the KaziKidz health promotion intervention among educators and caregivers in schools from South Africa: a qualitative descriptive study. BMC Public Heath, 24:934

  2. Long, K Z., Beckmann, J., Lang, C., Seelig, H., Nqweniso, S., Utzinger, J., Gerber, M. et al. (2024). Randomized trial to improve children's body composition and micronutrient status among South African Children. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 000(000):1−11

  3. Nqweniso, S., Walter, C., du Randt, R., Adams, L., Beckmann, J., Coulibaly, JT., Gerber, M. et al. (2023) Associations between soil-transmitted helminth infections and physical activity, physical fitness, and cardiovascular disease risk in primary schoolchildren from Gqeberha, South Africa. PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 17(10): e0011664.

  4. Arnaiz, P., Guntlisbergen, F., Infanger, D., Gerber, M., Nqweniso, S., Müller, I. et al. Association of accelerometry-based and self-reported physical activity with cardiovascular risk in South African children. (2023). South African Journal of Science, 119(9/10).

  5. Arnaiz, P., Seelig, H., Gerber, M., Adams, L., Dolley, D., Nqweniso, S., Steinmann, P., Utzinger, J. et al. (2023) Intervention effects and long-term changes in physical activity and cardiometabolic outcomes among children at risk of noncommunicable diseases in SouthAfrica: a clusterrandomized controlled trial and follow-up analysis. Front. Public Health, 11, 1199381.

  6. Dolley, D., du Randt, R., Gerber, M., Nqweniso, S. et al. (2023). Effects of the KaziBantu schoolbased health intervention on non-communicable disease risk factors of children from lowincome schools in Gqeberha, South Africa. African Journal for Physical Activity and Health Sciences,29(4):352-370.

  7. Arnaiz, P., Seelig, H., Gerber, M.,Adams, L.., Degen, J., Nqweniso, S., Steinmann, P. et al. (2023). Mixed intervention effects and long-term changes in physical activity and cardiovascular outcomes among children at risk of cardiovascular diseases. Current Issues in Sport Science, 8(2):085.

  8. Dolley, D., Zellar, D., du Randt, R., Walter, C., Pühse, U., Müller, I., Nqweniso, S. Effect of SACEAccredited Foundation Phase and Intermediate/Senior Phase Physical Education Short Learning Programmes on the Quality of Physical Education Teaching at Selected Schools in Gqeberha. Physical Education Colloquium at the International Spring Sport Science Summit 2024. Potchefstroom, North-West University, North-West, 16-19 September (Abstract accepted for Oral presentation)

  9. Nqweniso, S., Walter C., du Randt, R., Dolley, D., Lang, C., Gerber, M. A combined physical activity and multi-micronutrient supplementation intervention in South African primary schools: Effects on physical activity, fitness, and cardiovascular disease risk factors. South African Sports Medicine Association Conference (SASMA) 2024. Stellenbosch, South Africa, 17-19 October (Abstract accepted for Oral presentation)

  10. Arnaiz, P., Bergman, M., Dolley, D., Adams, L. Gerber, M., Müller, I., Joubert, N., Nqweniso S. et al. Perceived acceptance and feasibility of the KaziKidz health promotion intervention among educators and caregivers in schools from South Africa: a qualitative descriptive study. 15th Annual Conference of the Swiss Society of Sports Sciences (SGS/4S) ETH, Zurich, Switzerland. February 2024.

  11. Pühse, U., Wilders, C J., Walter, C., Gerber, M., du Randt, R., Nqweniso, S. et al. Building a diverse society through sport, physical activity and physical education - The activities of the 'UNESCO Chair on Physical Activity and Health in Educational Settings': An exchange with the UNESCO team Namibia. UNESCO Namibia. Windhoek, Namibia. February 2023.

  12. Nqweniso, S., du Randt, R., Walter C., Lang, C., Gerber, M. Disease burden of soil-transmitted helminth infections on cardiovascular disease risk, physical activity, and fitness in primary schoolchildren in Gqeberha, South Africa. International Festival of Sport, Exercise and Medicine Conference (IFSEMC): A joint conference between SASMA, LTMIC, PASHDA and SASB. Pretoria, South Africa, 29 September – 02 October 2022. (Oral presentation).

  13. Müller, I., Malan, R., Dolley, D., Degen, J., Grieshaber, C., Küng, O. M., Nqweniso, S., Joubert, N. et al. (2023): KaziKidz Pre-Primary Teaching Material for Physical Education from the UNESCO Chair: A School Readiness Programme - Physical Education Resources for Pre-Primary Teachers aligned with the Curriculum from Namibia. (pp.99) First Edition (UNESCO Chair Team) Chapter: 4.1. Publisher: Co-Publishing with UNESCO (Paris, France).

  14. Müller, I., Malan, R., Dolley, D., Degen, J., Grieshaber, C., Küng, O. M., Nqweniso, S., Joubert, N. et al. (2023): KaziKidz Pre-Primary Teaching Material for Physical Education from the UNESCO Chair: A School Readiness Programme - Moving-to-Music Resources for PrePrimary Teachers aligned with the Curriculum from Namibia. (pp.141) First Edition (UNESCO Chair Team) Chapter: 4.2. Publisher: Co-Publishing with UNESCO (Paris, France).

  15. Müller, I., Malan, R., Dolley, D., Degen, J., Grieshaber, C., Küng, O. M., Nqweniso, S., Joubert, N. et al. (2023): KaziKidz Pre-Primary Teaching Material for Physical Education from the UNESCO Chair: A School Readiness Programme - Health, Hygiene and Nutrition Resources for PrePrimary Teachers aligned with the Curriculum from Namibia. (pp.49) First Edition (UNESCO Chair Team) Chapter: 4.3. Publisher: Co-Publishing with UNESCO (Paris, France).

  16. Müller, I., Dolley, D., Degen, J., Gall, S., Weiss, A., Brügger, C., Nqweniso, S., Joubert, N. et al. (2021): KaziKidz Teaching Material for Foundation Phase Grade 1 - 3 Schoolchildren based on the CAPS from South Africa. Mandela University Press and African Sun Media Partner (ASMP). The Woodmill (Head Office) Office 5, Vredenburg Rd, Devonvallei, 7600 Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Current Research Collaborations within your Department or Discipline:

N/A

Current Inter-Disciplinary/Multi-Disciplinary/Trans-Disciplinary Research Collaborations:

N/A