KNOWLEDGE OF FACTOR THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MBAITOLU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF IMO STATE

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

Good health is the desire of every individual. The attainment of a good health depends on the individual’s ability to live a healthy lifestyle. Good health is difficult to be attained completely as human needs cannot be completely satisfied at any given time.

Physically, one may be healthy, but socially, mentally and otherwise one may not be healthy (Avanzini, Marzona, Baviera, Barlera, Milani, & Caimi, 2016). Good health is motivated by one’s lifestyle; the way we appreciate things that come our way determines how we manage stress which is one of the silent killers (Avanzini et al, 2016).

Health is a universal trait. Health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being in which disease and infirmity are absent (Benz & Robinson, 2013). Health contributes to general well-being and overall lifestyle. In order for a person to enjoy a quality of life, good health habits must be achieved because basic health determines what a person can do. There are several factors in a person’s lifestyle that can make them healthy or unhealthy. Basic diet and nutrition aids a person in many different ways. Eating the correct amount of nutrients is essential for the body’s proper functioning. Basic nutrition is the fuel that a body needs to operate. When students enter into secondary school, their diets deteriorate and they gain or lose weight. Meals are often skipped by secondary school students, and management of weight and food intake is often non existent or disordered. Class and work schedules change daily as well as every session. Several factors can be considered to avoid the weight gain and decline in diet quality that may occur during the school years (National Institutes of Health-NIH, 2009).

Healthy lifestyle is expressed into positive health behaviors being practiced so as to be healthy, as well as, to prevent diseases. Healthy lifestyle behaviors are important characteristics in health promotion and may suppress markers of illness (Abanobi, 2011). Individuals who embraced healthy lifestyle behaviors can withstand health risks linked to disability and disease in later life. The World Health Organization has emphasized that 60% of the quality of an individual’s life depends on his or her behavior and lifestyle. Therefore, the development and promotion of healthy lifestyle behaviors among secondary school students is the foundation of disease prevention and, in maintaining a healthy life (Wang, Chen, & Duan, 2012).

In contrast, health-risk behaviors such as substance misuse, obesity and sedentary lifestyle becoming prominent during adolescence can increase an individual’s vulnerability to negative health outcomes. When reaching the adolescent phase, an individual begins to integrate various roles to play in meaningful and constructive ways. Adolescence is the stage of life in which opportunities for health are promising and future patterns of adult health are manifested (Melnyk,  Jacobson,  Belyea, O'Haver, & Marsiglia, 2013).

Lifestyles imply those behaviour patterns, activities or ways of life that characterize individuals and families (Ekpu, 2011).  These are specific ways people conduct their affairs.  Lifestyles are manifested in the various decisions and actions relating to all aspects of family living including those dealing with roles and role combinations, consumer practices, occupations and employment (Anyakoha, 2011).

According to Usoroh and Ekpu (2011), the factors that constitute lifestyles include family cultural practices, environmental practices, styles of living, values, beliefs, attitudes, and technology which may influence lifestyle choices and result in unhealthy or healthy lifestyle. Healthy lifestyle promotes healthy living, while unhealthy lifestyles provoke ill- health and diseases. Healthy lifestyle leads to fitness and wellness and reduces the risk of heart diseases and stroke. Çelebi (2014) stated that a healthy lifestyle should not only focus on prevention from diseases. But also, those behaviors that can improve the holistic well-being of a person throughout life. Healthy lifestyle behaviors are positive attitudes practiced daily by an individual including good nutrition, adequate rest, regular exercises, adequate water intake, good environment, self- control and even interpersonal relationships, however unhealthy lifestyle behaviors are defined as attitudes that deteriorate health due to acquired incorrect or incomplete information as well as observations. To obtain a healthy life, individuals have to control their own behavior, make better decisions, and cope with negative situations. The high school period is found to be the time that a person can develop a complete self-awareness ( DeGuzman & Bosch, 2017). Schools are an outstanding venue to provide young ones with skills to improve their healthy lifestyle behaviors including mental health, social skills, and academic performance. Assessing the health behavior of young people in this period and providing them support in the lacking areas is of great importance.

Healthy lifestyles consist of good nutrition and good feeding habit, observance of good sanitation practices and safety habit, regular exercise, non-smoking, non-alcohol consumption, safe drug use, avoidance of casual and unprotected sex and upholding positive traditional values (Lemchi & Osele, 2011). A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being. Although good nutrition and exercise are very essential for health, a healthy lifestyle goes beyond adequate diets and exercises. Nestle (2010) however emphasized that healthy lifestyle should be free from clutches of alcoholism, drug abuse that harm the body and social ills.

Earlier, Nestle (2010) presented healthy lifestyle as a multidimensional pattern of self initiated actions and perceptions that serve to maintain or enhance the level of wellness, self actualization and fulfillment of the individual. These include six domains, individual nutrition, physical activity, stress management, interpersonal relationship, dress sense, and psychological wellness. Healthy lifestyle leads to fitness and wellness and reduces the risk of heart diseases and stroke (Smyth, 2011). The author stated further that healthy lifestyles consist of good nutrition and good feeding habit, observance of good sanitation practices and safety habit, regular exercise, non-smoking, non-alcohol consumption, safe drug use, avoidance of casual and unprotected sex and upholding positive traditional values. The closeness between health and lifestyle is not surprising.  Health is the greatest asset any individual, family or nation at large can boast of through healthy lifestyles. This is because, healthy lifestyles promote individual and family wellbeing, while unhealthy ones provoke ill-health and diseases.

Unhealthy lifestyle, according to World Health Organization (WHO) (2009) is abnormal way of living which include smoking, drunkenness, alcohol use, sexual recklessness, unhealthy or poor diet and physical inactivity. These latter risk factors give rise to intermediate conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, abnormal lipid (cholesterol) and glucose metabolism. Ige, Owoaje and Adebiyi (2013) noted that about 67% of Nigerians were reported as having at least one risk behaviour such as unhealthy diet, sedentary living, excessive alcohol use, physical inactivity and smoking which can result to lifestyle related diseases . The report of the study carried out by Olaitan, Oyerinde, Dominic, Mohammed and Ajibua (2013) showed that 70% people suffer hypertension, 61.5% suffer overweight, 57% suffer obesity, 61% suffer diabetes, 45.1% suffer heart attack.

Today Nigerians are facing dietary choices and nutritional challenges, like exotic foreign food, dietary supplements, artificial sweeteners, low fat and artificial fat alternatives, cholesterol-free food products, and different kinds of food with high-protein, or high-carbohydrate, or low- calorie products. Secondary school is a particularly challenging setting in which it is difficult to maintain good nutrition. Balanced diets typically go out of the window in the college due to certain unique today circumstances of college life which include unlimited food access: access of unhealthy choices in the dining halls, unpredictable meal schedules and patterns, and a stressful lifestyle that may lead to emotional eating. These obstacles can contribute to inadequate nutrients intake (Ige, et al, 2013).

Healthy diet is the key for current and future good health, even if the students are not over- or underweight, poor nutrition puts them at risk for various medical problems including diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, osteoporosis and iron-deficiency-related anemia, (US department of Health and Human Services, 2010). In addition, when undernourished, a person may feel unwell on a daily basis, potentially experiencing depression and low immunity. It is possible to eat a balanced, nutritious diet in Secondary school, but it just take some determination and effort. Focusing on the main food groups is very important, incorporating whole grains, brightly colored vegetables and fruits, low fat or nonfat dairy products, lean meats and beans, as well as, healthy fats in the diet. At the same time, minimize foods high in saturated and Tran’s fats, as well as, sugary, high-calorie beverages. Some tips for better nutrition for college students according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,(CDC) include; avoid skipping meals, keep healthy, take high nutrient snacks on hand, such as nuts, fruits, low-fat cheese sticks, yogurt, popcorn and pretzels, less candy, chips and other unhealthy foods. Secondary school students’ often suffer when they go to college; they face a challenge when trying to eat healthy food. Most students have time constraints that make buying, preparing, and eating healthy food a difficult task. Thus, there is a distinct move towards fast food restaurants.

These eating centers fit students’ needs for a fast bite of food between classes. Many fast foods are high in fat and sodium. Eating poorly for four years of life, will cause malnutrition, and the immediate signs noticed are fatigue, inability to handle stress, and unbearable anxiety. Weight gain is another sign of malnutrition, if not eating healthfully, most people gain weight if they are eating high in calories but poor in nutrients. According to the data from the Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines as of 2017, the number of junior high school students is around 8.2 million out of the 28 million students from public and private schools, as well as, state universities and colleges. The high school period is characterized by rapid physical, psychological and social changes experienced simultaneously. Students are in the rapid growing period and were identified as in the high risk of developing negative behaviors. Previous studies reported that more young people are involved in substance abuse, lack of physical activity, unhealthy diet, as well as early development of cardiovascular diseases (Ige et al, 2013).

Physical wellbeing involves physical activities, rest and sleep which promote healthy lifestyle among students. Physical activity or exercise is any movement using muscles that helps, improves or maintains physical fitness.

Good nutrition is a prerequisite of growth and critical for socioeconomic development. College students need to have a healthy diet, which includes a variety of food, to provide them with the amount of proper nutrients their body needs. Low calcium intake and vitamin D deficiency cause low bone mass (osteoporosis) and other bone diseases. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA), is the most wide spread nutritional deficiency. Iron has several functions in the body. It serves as a carrier of oxygen as hemoglobin and as an integral part of enzyme systems especially of respiration. According to Budd, Felton, Wood, Raubenheimer and Wallis (2014), adequate nutrition, which is balanced dietary intake, is the right proportion of food nutrients needed for growth, energy and maintenance. Malnutrition is a pathological state resulting from a relative or absolute deficiency or wrong proportion of essential nutrients. College students do not take into account the seriousness of their health behaviors. Some studies indicate that difficulty in academic performance is as a result of some unhealthy behavior. If basic health is not achieved then college students will encounter problems, not only physically but mentally as well. Ultimately, if secondary school students’ health is not complete, then they will not perform to their potential in their studies.

Stress management are appropriate coping actions, behaviours or attitudes which individuals exhibit when faced with certain psychological, physiological and social demands that tax their adaptive resources (Oboegbulem, 2010). The author explained further that stress management includes drop-out from unhealthy relationships (friendships) partnerships, reduced the noise level around an individual, reduction in cigarette and alcohol intake; controlling one’s work situation, having enough rest and sleep, sharing emotional feelings with others and build a good communication and relationship system which invariably will promote healthy lifestyle among individuals in any group.

Dress sense can be used to promote healthy lifestyles of an individual. Inappropriate use of dressing can lead to exposure to diseases such as pneumonia, cold, body rashes and unhealthy behaviours such as prostitution, raping (Ozor & Ohaka, 2013). The dressing choice of an individual is determined by individual taste, shape or figure type, knowledge about dressing and available finances. Dressing according to McCullough (2003) is anything placed on the body to provide physical protection against harsh weather and other external environmental hazards as well as for adornment. Anyakoha (2011) stated that dress constitutes visual communication, which gives varied impression about the wearer. Hence, selecting appropriate dressing for individuals and families enhances comfort, decency, appearance, home and healthy living.

Good interpersonal relations and interaction among teachers and students define a healthy school environment (Clarke, 2012). Similarly, families with inter-appropriate personal relationship and interaction eat together, play together, share their feelings and emotions with one another, support each other, communicate with each others, interact and spend time with their children both inside and outside of the home and encourage them to participate in extracurricular activities and social events. Communication is increasingly recognized as a necessary element of all efforts to promote interpersonal relationship and interaction which will eventually lead to healthy lifestyle. Types of foods to be eaten by the families, physical activities, good communication can reduce tension, emotional upset, mental disorder and promote mental health. Mental health according to WHO (2001) is the capacity to work, play and for recreation. Maintaining good mental health is crucial to living a long and healthy life. Mental health is a level of psychological well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. It is the psychological state of someone who is functioning at a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioral adjustment. Amoran, Lawoyin and Oni (2005) noted that in Nigeria, 28.5 of those attending primary care setting in an urban area were found to have psychiatric morbidity due to economic migration which create socio-cultural changes that may affect the mental health of the individual.

Health promotion programming (HPP) as posited by Abanobi (2004) involves personal and public health services of the scope of planned interventions that seek to increase the level of well being and promote self-actualization of individuals and aggregates (population groups) by advocating behaviours that are intended to expand the potential for health and personal development. He further stated that health promotion programmes usually involve some load of value clarification (understanding the belief of the individuals and that of the community) and value change (changing the values that negatively affect the individual and the community). The author also stated that it is a well-packed, action-oriented programme of preventive health services. Furthermore, health promotion programmes are found located in schools, workplace, hospitals and the community at large either as stand-alone programmes or as integral part of other preventive and public health services in the community.

This study will be conducted to determine the knowledge of factors that promote healthy lifestyles among students in senior secondary schools in Mbaitolu Local Government Area of Imo State.

 

Statement of the Problem

Recent years have seen a blast of mHealth apps for health promotion, targeting in particular nutrition and dietary behaviour change. However, reviews show difficulties in the adoption and effective usage of these applications in telemedicine and by the population in general, due to a lack of evidence-based content and strategies provided (e.g., by commercial apps) or lack of sufficient user engagement with the apps. Nutrition apps typically require self-reporting of food intake by the user which is often seen as a burden and a cause of abandonment of the app. However, current wave of research has taken up the challenge of promoting healthy lifestyles with advances in artificial intelligence (AI).

A close look at the present day secondary school students’, the problem facing promotion of  healthy lifestyle are lack of money, poor socio-economic Status (SES), lack of regular exercise, poor nutrition intake, lack of having good sleep or rest, poor environmental environment, substance abuse.   There are challenges of other threatening diseases such as hypertension, heart diseases, obesity, overweight, diabetes and high cholesterol to unhealthy lifestyles and behaviours among students. There are also nutritional challenges, like exotic foreign food, dietary supplements, artificial sweeteners, low fat and artificial fat alternatives, cholesterol-free food products, and different kinds of food with high-protein, or high-carbohydrate, or low- calorie products.

Young individuals are not exempted among lifestyle-related non- communicable diseases (NCDs) such as smoking that obtained 19.7%; alcohol consumption up to 37%; and drug use with 4% admitting to the act. In addition, the Dangerous Drugs Board (2015) reported that the lifetime drug use prevalence is around 6.1% of the same sample population of which 4.8 million Filipinos have used prohibited substances at least once in their lives.

There are lack of  knowledge of factors in diet and lifestyle such as poor diet, drug abuse, especially tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking, as well as the lack of exercise have been identified as risky and susceptible to certain diseases in later life .Unhealthy, negative, or hazardous lifestyles are ways of living which constitute obvious danger to the health and wellbeing of the individual and significant others. Drug misuse and alcohol abuse have destabilizing effect on people’s psych and health and makes the future of the young generation bleak. Achalu (2014) posited that drug abuse is on the increase with its attendant problems of crime (theft, robbery, vandalism and cultism among others), accidents, disrespect for law, economic loses. The knowledge of promoting a positive lifestyle practice is a problem or challenge for primary health care. However, health promotion is challenging; alcohol use, tobacco use, high blood pressure, high body mass index (BMI), high cholesterol, high blood glucose, low fruit and vegetable intake, and physical inactivity account for 61% of cardiovascular deaths.

Also, health-risk behaviors such as substance misuse, mental health, obesity and sedentary lifestyle becoming prominent during adolescence can increase an individual’s vulnerability to negative health outcomes.

 

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study will be to determine the knowledge of factor that promote healthy lifestyle among secondary school students in Mbaitolu Local Government Area of Imo State. Specifically, the  study will seek to;

1.      determine  if the knowledge of Physical wellbeing practice  promote healthy lifestyle among secondary school students in Mbaitolu L.G.A

2.      Determine  the knowledge of dress sense practice promote healthy lifestyle among secondary school students in Mbaitolu L.G.A

3.      Determine  if the knowledge  of good nutritional practice promote healthy lifestyle among secondary school students in Mbaitolu L.G.A

4.      Determine if the knowledge of stress management practice promote healthy lifestyle among secondary school students in Mbaitolu L.G.A

Significance of the Study

The finding of this study will be of great benefit to the followings; to the students, teachers, federal ministry of health, Non governmental organization (NGO) and to further researchers.

To the Students: This study will contributes significantly  in improving the quality of college student’s life, and helps them live longer, free from diseases and illnesses.

To the Teachers: These teachers could benefit from this  findings as it will help them to  develop textbooks on how to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours.

To Federal Ministries of Health: The Federal Ministries of Health  will also benefit from the findings of the study. This is because, the findings of the study on practices for promoting healthy lifestyles among students could be packaged and used by the ministries of health to educate the public on the practices that can be used to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours. A lot of seminars, workshop and conferences could be also organized by the government at various levels to educate public on various practices that can be used to promote healthy lifestyle among couples.

Non governmental organization (NGO):  The findings of the study could be of great benefit to the NGOs as self study guide. The findings can be used to educate members within the NGOs in order to know the measures in which they can use to help in promoting healthy family lifestyle behaviours. The NGOs can also write textbooks on each strategy identified to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours among people.

To further Researchers: The study as a whole will serve as source of literature to educational researchers. The researchers will consult the study and extract relevant literature to develop their own study.

 

Research Questions

The following research questions will guide the study:

1.      What is the knowledge of Physical wellbeing practice that promote healthy lifestyle among secondary school students in Mbaitolu L.G.A?

2.      What is the knowledge of dress sense practice that promote healthy lifestyle among secondary school students in Mbaitolu L.G.A?

WWhat is the knowledge of good nutrition practice that promote healthy lifestyle among secondary school students in Mbaitolu L.G.A?

WWhat is the knowledge of stress management practice that promote healthy lifestyle among secondary school students in Mbaitolu L.G.A? 

 

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