Strategies for Promoting Healthy Lifestyles among In-school Adolescents in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area, Imo State

Abstract

The study examines the strategies for promoting healthy lifestyle among in school adolescents in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government. Three research questions and one null hypothesis were formulated. Descriptive survey research design adopted for the study. The population of the study was in school adolescents in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, Imo State.  A total number of (280) in school adolescents were sampled. Two stage sampling procedures of purposive sampling and simple random technique were used for the sampling. Self-developed Strategies for Promoting Healthy Lifestyle among in school adolescents Questionnaire(SPHEAQ)  was used for data collection. The reliability index was 0.85. Descriptive statistics of frequencies, percentages, grand mean as well as inferential statistics of chi-square was used for data analysis. The findings revealed that majority of in school adolescents (30.29) % strongly agreed on adequate diet as a strategy for promoting healthy lifestyle while many of the respondents (28.1) % and (28.3) % of the respondents disagreed on regular exercise and stress management respectively as a strategy for promoting healthy lifestyle among in school adolescents. There was significant difference of gender on the strategies for promoting healthy lifestyle among in school adolescents. It is recommended among others that governments and non-governmental agencies as well as other health professional and teachers should periodically organize seminars, workshops; health talks as well as health counseling sections for the general public in order to sensitize them on the need for promoting healthy lifestyle.