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Explore Dr Chali's work
Building equitable evidence for how children move, sleep, and thrive every day.
Projects
Active Healthy Kids Ethiopia
My role: Report Card Leader
I led Ethiopia’s first three national Report Cards on physical activity and movement behaviours, working with the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (40+ countries). I synthesised national evidence, convened multidisciplinary experts, and communicated findings to policymakers and media.
SUNRISE Study Ethiopia
My role: Chief Investigator
I led the SUNRISE Ethiopia study in collaboration with the SUNRISE International Study. In this role, I established Ethiopia’s first accelerometer dataset, capturing the 24‑hour movement behaviours of preschool children across diverse urban and rural settings. This work provides foundational evidence for understanding how Ethiopian children move, sleep, and engage with digital technologies.
Ethiopia's Adults Physical Activity Card
My role: Country Contact
I am responsible for coordinating and strengthening the nation’s physical activity advocacy, research, and surveillance efforts, representing the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!). My role ensures Ethiopia’s data, evidence, and policy progress are accurately represented in global monitoring platforms, enabling meaningful international comparisons and visibility.
Ethiopia's Physical Education Country Card
My role: Country Contact
I am responsible for coordinating and strengthening the nation’s physical education efforts, representing the Global Observatory for Physical Education (GoPE!). My role ensures Ethiopia’s data, evidence, and policy progress are accurately represented in global monitoring platforms, enabling meaningful international comparisons and visibility.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
2026
Del Pozo-Cruz J, Alfonso-Rosa RM, Zhang Z, Abdeta C, et al. Global reference values for daily steps in preschool children (SUNRISE): a cross-sectional analysis from 44 countries. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. Published online September 29, 2026. doi:10.1016/S2352-4642(26)00188-4
Martins C, Webster EK, Abdeta C, et al. Age- and sex-specific percentile curves for gross and fine motor skills in early childhood: an analysis from the SUNRISE International Study. Eur J Pediatr . 2026:185;593. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-026-07249-y
Toledo-Vargas M, Chong KH, Abdeta C, et al. Associations Between Caregiver Smartphone Use in a Child's Presence and Motor Skills and Executive Function in Preschoolers: SUNRISE International Study. Child Care Health Dev. 2026;52(4):e70305. doi:10.1111/cch.70305.
Abdeta C, Deksisa A, Tesfaye D. Results from Ethiopia’s 2025 GoPA! Country Card, highlighting the landscape of physical activity surveillance in the country. 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, emphasizing the importance of digital wellbeing in youth. 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 regarding physical activity surveillance. 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 impacting digital wellbeing. 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 emphasizing physical activity surveillance. 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 underlining Ethiopia research. 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 relevant to physical activity surveillance. 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, contributing to Ethiopia research. 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 relevant to Ethiopia research. 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: implications for digital wellbeing. 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, focusing on Ethiopia research. 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 contributing to physical activity surveillance. 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, incorporating aspects of digital wellbeing. 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, a key part of Ethiopia research. 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, highlighting the role of physical activity surveillance. 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, focusing on the Ethiopian context. 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, crucial for understanding Ethiopia research. 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, contributing to physical activity surveillance. 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, providing insights for Ethiopia research. 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, vital for physical activity surveillance. 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, discussing implications for digital wellbeing. 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, significant for Ethiopia research. 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, contributing to physical activity surveillance. 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, essential for understanding the context of Ethiopia research. 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, pivotal for physical activity surveillance. J Phys Act Health. 2018;15(S2):S353‑S354. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2018-0457.
Conference presentations
2025
Abdeta C, Cliff D, Deksisa A, Okely AD. Examining research translation in Ethiopia: Community-engaged dissemination of the SUNRISE study findings on digital wellbeing. 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 focusing on physical activity surveillance. ASPA 2025 Conference, Newcastle — In person.
2024
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: Insights from the SUNRISE Ethiopia Study on physical activity surveillance. 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: Findings from the SUNRISE Ethiopia Study, contributing to the body of Ethiopia research. 10th International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) Congress, France — Online.
2022
Abdeta C, Deksisa A, Tesfaye D, Hallal PC, et al. Addressing Ethiopia's physical activity policy, research and surveillance deficits through targeted initiatives. 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 on physical activity surveillance. ASPA 2022 Conference — Online. Abdeta C. Physical Activity Research in Ethiopia: Advancing understanding of health outcomes. 9th International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) Congress, Abu Dhabi — In person.
Media releases
2023
Draper C, Okely A, Oluwayomi A, Abdeta C. Children’s movement affects health and development, yet research, particularly in areas like Ethiopia, is lacking: here’s why. The Conversation. https://doi.org/10.64628/AAJ.4gfrx49m6. Published: June 25, 2023.
Manyanga T, Abdeta C, Tladi D, Naidoo R. A new study highlights that children and teens aren’t engaging in enough physical activity, raising serious concerns about digital wellbeing and health. The Conversation. https://doi.org/10.64628/AAJ.4gfrx49m6. Published: January 30, 2023.
Gallery
Let’s work together
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