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Dr Chalchisa Abdeta investigates early childhood movement behaviours, physical activity surveillance, and digital wellbeing. Leveraging international collaborations and large-scale datasets—including the Global Matrix and SUNRISE international study—his work spans Ethiopia, Australia, and beyond.
Dr Abdeta’s research bridges the gap between academic evidence and community-led knowledge translations. He is dedicated to creating culturally responsive pathways that allow every child to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
Explore his projects, peer-reviewed publications, and presentations below.
Projects
Active Healthy Kids Ethiopia
Access physical activity grades, report cards, and related documents for children and adolescents from all Global Matrix studies involving Ethiopia.
SUNRISE Study Ethiopia
The first accelerometer data recorded the 24-hour movement behaviour of Ethiopian preschool children.
Ethiopia's Adults Physical Activity Card
Access physical activity country cards, and related documents for adults from all Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!) involving Ethiopia.
Ethiopia's Physical Education Country Card
Access country cards and related documents on physical education for children and adolescents from all Global Observatory for Physical Education (GoPE!) initiatives involving Ethiopia.
Publications
2026
- Abdeta C, Deksisa A, Tesfaye D. Results from Ethiopia’s 2025 GoPA! Country Card. In: Ramírez Varela A, Martins J, Pratt M, et al. The Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!) and Global Observatory for Physical Education (GoPE!) 2025 Country Cards. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2026;23(S1):S1-S54. doi:10.1123/jpah.2026-0089.
- Abdeta C, Deksisa A, Tesfaye D. Results from Ethiopia’s GoPE! Country Card. In: Ramírez Varela A, Martins J, Pratt M, et al. The Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!) and Global Observatory for Physical Education (GoPE!) 2025 Country Cards. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2026;23(S1):S1-S54. doi:10.1123/jpah.2026-0089.
- Spring K, Webster E, Abdeta C, et al. Probability of meeting the restrained sitting guideline in early childhood: an international cross-sectional study. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2026.04.018.
- Maddren, C. I., G.Dhamrait, A. Abdeta C, et al. Environmental Factors Associated With Preschoolers' Outdoor Play and Napping in Childcare Settings: The SUNRISE International Study. Child: Care, Health and Development, 2026; 52:e70284. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.70284.
2025
- Abdeta C, Cliff D, Kariippanon K, et al. Associations Between 24‑h Movement Behaviours and Health in 3‑ and 4‑Year‑Old Children From a Low‑Income Country: The SUNRISE Ethiopia Study. Child Care Health Dev. 2025;51(4):e70096. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.70096.
- Abdeta C, Cliff D, Kariippanon K, et al. Child‑, Family‑, and Community‑Level Correlates of 24‑Hour Movement Behaviors in Ethiopian Young Children: The SUNRISE Study. J Phys Act Health. 2025;22(6):716‑725. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0556.
- Abdeta C, Cliff DP, Toledo‑Vargas M, Okely AD. 24‑hour movement behaviours and health outcomes among forcibly displaced children: a scoping review. BMC Public Health. 2025;25(1):1799. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22996-7.
- Abdeta C, Deksisa A, Hailu M, et al. Physical activity, screen time and sleep among children and adolescents: findings from the 2022 Active Healthy Kids Ethiopia. BMC Pediatrics. 2025;25:532. doi: 10.1186/s12887-025-05785-4.
- Chala Y, Techane T, Abdeta C, et al. Time to breast cancer recurrence and predictors in Addis Ababa hospitals. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2025;151(6):187. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-025-06181-2.
- Debela MB, Gonfa KB, Abdeta C, et al. Breast cancer determinants in LMICs: umbrella review of meta‑analyses. BMC Cancer. 2025;25(1):1096. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14499-w.
- Maddren CI, Dhamrait G, Abdeta C, et al. Parental Perceptions of Environmental Factors on Preschoolers’ Sleep Duration Among 23 Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries. Behavioral Sleep Medicine. 2025; 1–13. doi:10.1080/15402002.2025.2576917.
- Maddren CI, Dhamrait G, Abdeta C, et al. Parental Perceptions of Environmental Factors on Preschoolers' Outdoor Play in 19 Countries. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2025;22(5):555-565. doi:10.1123/jpah.2024-0615.
- Mavilidi MF, Zou L, Abdeta C, et al. Adherence to 24‑hour movement guidelines: Cognitive effects in Australian preschoolers. Mental Health & Physical Activity. 2025;29:100712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2025.100712.
- Reilly JJ, Andrew R, Abdeta C, et al. Improving National and International Surveillance of Movement Behaviours in Childhood and Adolescence: An International Modified Delphi Study. Sports Med. 2025;55(1):203‑219. doi:10.1007/s40279-024-02104-2.
- Tugu, Chalchisa Abdeta. Adherence to the WHO movement behaviour guidelines and associations with health and development among young children in Ethiopia. University of Wollongong. Thesis. 2025. https://doi.org/10.71747/uow-r3gk326m.29220812.
- Zhang Z, Abdeta C, Chelly MS, et al. Geocultural differences in preschooler sleep profiles and family practices: pooled data from 37 countries. Sleep. 2025;48(4):zsae305. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsae305
- Zhang Z, Abdeta C, Chelly MS, et al. Measurement properties of the SUNRISE Study Parent Questionnaire for sleep practices. Sleep Health: Journal of the National Sleep Foundation, 2025; 11, 613-623. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2025.04.006.
2024
- Abdeta C, Cliff D, Kariippanon K, et al. Adherence to WHO physical activity, screen time and sleep guidelines among Ethiopian preschool children: The SUNRISE study. J Act Sedentary Sleep Behav. 2024;3(1):22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s44167-024-00060-w.
2022
- Aubert S, Barnes JD, Abdeta C, et al. Global Matrix 4.0 Physical Activity Report Card Grades for Children and Adolescents: Results from 57 Countries. J Phys Act Health. 2022;19(11):700‑728. doi:10.1123/jpah.2022-0456.
- Murphy J, Milton K, Abdeta C, et al. Advocating for Implementation of the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity. J Phys Act Health. 2022;20(1):10‑19. doi:10.1123/jpah.2022-0357.
- Ramírez Varela A, Hallal PC, Abdeta C, et al. Status and Trends of Physical Activity Surveillance in 164 Countries. J Phys Act Health. 2022;20(2):112‑128. doi:10.1123/jpah.2022-0464.
2021
- Okely AD, Kontsevaya A, Ng J, Abdeta C. 2020 WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behavior. Sports Med Health Sci. 2021;3(2):115‑118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smhs.2021.05.001.
- Okely T, Reilly JJ, Abdeta C, et al. Cross‑sectional examination of 24‑hour movement behaviours among 3‑ and 4‑year‑old children: the SUNRISE study protocol. BMJ Open. 2021;11(10):e049267. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049267.
2019
- Abdeta C, Seyoum B, Teklemariam Z. Knowledge of physical activity guidelines among adults in Harar, Ethiopia. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2019;5(1):e000463. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000463.
- Abdeta C, Teklemariam Z, Deksisa A, et al. Assessment of Physical Activity Indicators for Children and Youth in Ethiopia: Evidence from the Global Matrix 3.0 Study. Sports Med Open. 2019;5(1):55. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-019-0229-5.
- Mogo ERI, Lerno A, Abdeta C, Olufemi O. Socio‑ecological response to NCDs in Africa’s cities. Cities & Health. 2019;6(1):51‑56. https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2019.1688911.
2018
- Abdeta C, Teklemariam Z, Seyoum B. Prevalence of physical inactivity among adults in Harar, Ethiopia. Balt J Health Phys Act. 2018;10(2):72‑80.
- Aubert S, Barnes JD, Abdeta C, et al. Global Matrix 3.0 Physical Activity Report Card Grades for Children and Youth: Results from 49 Countries. J Phys Act Health. 2018;15(S2):S251‑S273. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2018-0472.
- Manyanga T, Barnes JD, Abdeta C, et al. Indicators of Physical Activity Among Children and Youth in 9 Countries with Low–Medium HDI. J Phys Act Health. 2018;15(S2):S274‑S283. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2018-0370.
- Abdeta C, Teklemariam Z, Deksisa A, Abera E. Results from Ethiopia’s 2018 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. J Phys Act Health. 2018;15(S2):S353‑S354. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2018-0457.
Conference presentations
- Abdeta C, Cliff D, Deksisa A, Okely AD. Examining research translation in Ethiopia: Community-engaged dissemination of the SUNRISE study findings. ASPA 2025 Conference, Newcastle — In person.
- Abdeta C, Cliff D, Toledo-Vargas M, Okely AD. 24-hour movement behaviours and health outcomes among forcibly displaced children affected by conflict or natural disasters: A scoping review. ASPA 2025 Conference, Newcastle — In person.
- Abdeta C, Cliff D, Deksisa A, Okely AD. Translating PHD research findings in Ethiopia. UOW HDR Conference 2024, Wollongong— In person.
- Abdeta C, Cliff D, Kariippanon K, Deksisa A, Garoma S, Tesfaye D, Okely AD. Associations between 24‑hour movement behaviours and health in preschool‑aged children from a low‑income country: The SUNRISE Ethiopia Study.ASPA 2024 Conference, Perth — In person.
- Abdeta C, Cliff D, Kariippanon K, Deksisa A, Garoma S, Tesfaye D, Okely AD. Adherence to the WHO Guidelines and Associations with Socio‑demographic Factors: The SUNRISE Ethiopia Study. 10th International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) Congress, France — Online.
- Abdeta C, Deksisa A, Tesfaye D, Hallal PC, et al. Ethiopia’s physical activity policy, research and surveillance deficits. 8th International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) Congress — Online.
- Abdeta C, Deksisa A, Tesfaye D, Hailu M. Active Play Profile of School Children in Ethiopia: Results from Ethiopia’s 2022 Report Card. ASPA 2022 Conference — Online.
- Abdeta C. Physical Activity Research in Ethiopia. 9th International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) Congress, Abu Dhabi — In person.
Media releases
- Draper C, Okely A, Oluwayomi A, Abdeta C. Children’s movement affects health and development but research is lacking in Africa: here’s why. The Conversation. https://doi.org/10.64628/AAJ.4gfrx49m6. Published: June 25, 2023.
- Manyanga T, Abdeta C, Tladi D, Naidoo R. Children and teens aren’t doing enough physical activity – new study sounds a health warning.The Conversation. https://doi.org/10.64628/AAJ.4gfrx49m6. Published: January 30, 2023