The Effects of Unhealthy Lifestyles on the Health of Adolescents
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Over the years, there has been an increasing awareness of the need to pay special focus on the adolescents and their health. This is because adolescence represents one of the critical transitions in the life span of an individual and is characterized by a tremendous pace in growth and change that is second only to that of infancy. Adolescence is a period of preparation for adulthood during which time several key developmental experiences occur. According to a WHO Report (2013), while adolescence is a time of tremendous physical growth and potential, it is also a time of considerable risk during which social contexts exert powerful influences. At this period many of them are pressured into engaging in certain risky behaviours which impact negatively on their health. Many adolescents face pressure to smoke, abuse alcohol and other drugs and to initiate sexual relationships at earlier ages, putting themselves at high risk for both intentional and unintentional injuries, unwanted pregnancies and infections. Many also experience a wide range of adjustment and mental health problems. Behaviour patterns are established during this process, such as drug use or non-use, sexual risk-taking or protection. This may have long-lasting positive or negative effects on future health and well-being.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified five priority categories of health risk behaviours in youths that contribute to the main causes of morbidity and mortality in this population. These include alcohol and drug use, tobacco use, unhealthy dietary behaviours, physical inactivity, which is also referred to as a sedentary lifestyle, and engaging in risky sexual behaviour (CDC, 2012).
Adolescence is a period when many healthy and unhealthy habits are imbibed, which may last throughout a person’s life. The increasing number of adolescents who engage in risky behaviours has become a matter of significant concern (WHO, 2013). According to Kelly and Jacobson (2014), adolescents require attendance to their rational needs, and they want their parents to care about them. Furthermore, parental neglect, not offering love to them, and underestimating their abilities are major parent-child challenges in Nigerian society.
Most adolescents seek to satisfy their curiosity if the opportunity is presented, and those who are curious about behaviour are likely to test it, if they perceive that the trial is of low cost and low risk. It appears that adolescents do not consider behaviours, such as smoking, substance abuse, and alcohol consumption to be risky, and try them easily to satisfy their curiosity (Ching and Wen, 2016). The need to satisfy the urge for enjoyment and fun are the other factor affecting the lifestyle of adolescents. According to Ching and Wen (2016), when an adolescent considers taste to be the sole criterion for nutrition, or takes up smoking and alcohol consumption for relaxation, he can easily be led toward an unhealthy lifestyle.
The Effects of Unhealthy Lifestyles on the Health of Adolescents
Furthermore, an adolescent committing an unhealthy behaviour is more likely to commit others. Unfortunately, harbouring such beliefs has an effect on unhealthy behaviours, and causes the lifestyle to be extensively unhealthy, and also helps in the perpetuation of these behaviours into adulthood (Lynn and Angelino, 2011). Also, it has been noted that adolescents tend to spend more time with their friends, and find them to be closer than their families. Unhealthy and risky friends, who are usually more influential, are more popular in groups and gangs. Adolescents feel a need to be protected by such groups, and therefore, are attracted to these risky personalities.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The World Health Organization Report (2013), observes that adolescence represents the transition from childhood to adulthood with features including secondary sexual growth, changes in hormonal milieu, emotional cognitive and psychological development. This makes them to be adventurous in all sphere of human endeavour including the formation of habits and lifestyles that most of them imbibe through life, hence the need to guide them to form proper and healthy lifestyle.
Globally, there has been an increasing rate of adolescents and youth engagement in unhealthy lifestyles which has in turn impacted negatively on the health of many. In order to promote healthy lifestyles and behaviours among adolescents, many international health bodies have come up with declarations and programmes. For instance, at the international conference on population Development in both Cairo and Beijing in 1994 and 1995 respectively, adolescent/youth health was identified as a major public health problem, especially in developing nations of the world (Okonofua, 2012). However, despite these pronouncements and declarations, not much has been achieved with regards to adolescents’ health promotion, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, there is no adequate study on the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle on the health of adolescents, especially in rural communities, which Ukana in Essien Udim is among. It is on the basis of the foregoing that I deemed it pertinent to investigate the effects of unhealthy lifestyles on the health of adolescents in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government of Akwa Ibom State.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The broad objective of this study is to investigate the effects of unhealthy lifestyles on the health of adolescents in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
The specific objectives of the study are as follows:
- To determine how drug/substance abuse affects the health of adolescents in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area.
- To find out how engaging in risky sexual behaviour affects the health of adolescents in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area.
- To ascertain the effect of unhealthy dietary habits on the health of adolescents in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area.
The Effects of Unhealthy Lifestyles on the Health of Adolescents
1.4 Research Questions
The research questions of this study are as follows:
- How does drug/substance abuse affect the health of adolescents in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area?
- In what ways does engaging in risky sexual behaviour affect the health of adolescents in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area.
- What are the effects of unhealthy dietary habits on the health of adolescents in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The researcher believes that the result of the study will assist health workers and other stakeholders in the health sector in designing health programs to meet the health needs of adolescents in the area.
More so, the result of the study will create more awareness of the health risk and challenges faced by adolescents and further encourage adults, parents, and guardians to do their best in supporting and guiding adolescents to form healthy lifestyles. Also, through this research, government at all levels, policymakers and other stakeholders in the health sector will be encouraged to formulate policies that will help in discouraging adolescents from engaging in an unhealthy lifestyle.
Finally, the result of the study will serve as a database that will stimulate further research and add to the body of knowledge in this area.
The Effects of Unhealthy Lifestyles on the Health of Adolescents