Qualitative study on stakeholders' perspectives on injury prevention and management in Senegal highlights central role of coaches (blogs.bmj.com)

• Coaches in Senegal often perform medical roles lacking formal support.
• Injury prevention is reactive, based on personal experience.
• Cultural beliefs influence pain reporting and care-seeking.
• ACL injuries viewed as career-ending.
• Opportunity for improvement with Youth Olympics.

"This qualitative study in Senegal interviewed 16 stakeholders (athletes, coaches, health professionals) about injury prevention and management in elite sport. Findings show a reactive, informal system heavily reliant on coaches who often provide first aid, return-to-play decisions, and psychosocial support due to limited medical infrastructure. Cultural factors like pain normalisation, use of traditional medicine, and mental health stigma affect care. ACL injuries often considered career-ending. The upcoming 2026 Youth Olympic Games presents an opportunity for context-specific improvements, but interventions must account for financial constraints, access, and local beliefs."