JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
A JOURNAL OF THE FACULTY OF EDUCATION AHMADU BELLO
UNIVERSITY ZARIA
VOLUME 1, NO. 1, NOV. 2005
NOTES TO CONTRIBUTORS
The Editorial Board welcomes articles of research and developmental
nature in all areas of Education, Physical and Health Education, Library and
Information Science, Vocational and Technical Education, etc.
GUIDELINES FOR AUTHORS/CONTRIBUTORS
-
All articles should bear the Names and address(es) of Author(s).
-
The blind cover page must carry only the title of the paper.
-
All papers must have an abstract of between 150 and 200 words
-
All authors should follow the APA format of referencing
-
Three clean copies of each article intended for publication should be
submitted to the Editor-in-Chief of the journal.
-
A diskette containing the article(s) with title of article(s) clearly indicated
must accompany every article.
-
Articles must not be more than 12 pages of A4 papers including
references using font 12.
-
Tables and figures should be kept to the barest minimum. They should be
submitted on separate sheets and clearly labelled. Their positions should
be clearly marked in the text.
-
Quoted passages of more than three typed lines should be extracted:
indented 5 spaces and typed single spaced. Shorter quotations should be
enclosed in single inverted commas.
-
Footnotes are not permitted.
1
JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
EDITORIAL BOARD
Prof. F.D. Kolo
-
Chairman
Prof. B.A. Ladani
-
Editor-in-Chief
Prof. I.A. Olaofe
-
Member
Prof. K. Venkateswarlu
-
Member
Prof. (Mrs) D. Bozimo
-
Member
EDITORIAL ADVISERS
Prof. F.A. Amuchie -
University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Prof. P. Lassa
University of Jos
-
Prof. J. Akinboye
-
University of Ibadan
Prof. P. Okebukola -
NUC/Lagos State University
Prof. Malumfashi
-
A.B.T. University, Bauchi
Prof. E.Igbokwe
-
University of Nigeria, Nsukka
JOURNAL COMMITTEE
Prof. B.A. Ladani
Dr. Sadiq Mohammed
Dr. A.I. Kabido
Dr. (Mrs) V.O. Babalola
Mrs Ramatu Jibril Daura
Mr. Baba S. Aduku
2
EDITORIAL
Human society is dynamic and not static but it could be static if the inhabitants
are not dynamic. The ability to mobilize and harness human resources leads to
progress and achievement. An academic community should vary in several ways
from non-academic because of the caliber of people available in it. However, an
academic community having no forum to express and exchange their ideas and
view is like a stagnant pool without an outlet.
The fundamental purpose of this journal of research is to give academic staff
both within and outside the university the opportunity to put across to the public
part of the knowledge they have acquired so that others can benefit from their
wealth of experience. This journal has been dormant for the past fourteen years
and I am happy that it has been revived by the Dean of Faculty of Education,
Prof. D.F. Kolo, who gave maximum support to see that the journal was revived.
The entire members of the Faculty of Education are grateful to you.
The journal is going to be a continuous process and as for that, contributors
need not wait for call for papers before sending their articles for publication.
Acceptance of articles for publication is open, therefore, articles can be sent at
anytime.
The reaction of scholars to the call for papers was quite encouraging and I wish
same to continue for the subsequent volume. Those authors whose articles came
late and did not appear in this volume should not be discouraged. Very soon the
second volume will be out with your articles.
Articles published in this volume cut across many academic fields such as
psychology, language arts, education, science, physical and health education,
sports management, exercise and sports science, business education, agricultural
science, home economics, etc.
I have no doubt whatsoever that this journal will serve useful purpose to both
staff and students, administrators, policy makers, agriculturists and the public at
large. I seize this opportunity to show my application to every member of the
journal committee for their untiring efforts to see to the success of this volume.
Finally, I thank the ALMIGHTY GOD who gave us life and good health to enable
us carry out this assignment successfully.
Prof. B.A. Ladani
Editor-in-chief
October, 2005
3
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS
1.
Dr. (Mrs.) E.F. Adeniyi, Senior Lecturer, Department of Education,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
2.
Mr. Fuandai, Cornelius Madas, Lecturer in the Department of Educational
Foundations, Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
3.
Dr. (Mrs.) T.E. Lawal, Lecturer in the Department of Education , Ahmadu
Bello University, Zaria.
4.
Dr. Munir Mamman, Lecturer in the Department of Languages, Faculty of
Arts, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
5.
Dr. M.M. Tajordeen, Chief Lecturer, School of Science, College of
Education, Minna.
6.
Dr. E.A. Buoro, Lecturer in the Department of Education, Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria.
7.
Mr. Raymond Kano, Lecturer in the Department of Education, Ahmadu
Bello University, Zaria.
8.
Very Rev. Fr. Dr. J. Mamman, Senior Lecturer in the Department of
Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
9.
Dr. J.N. Kwasau, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education, Ahmadu
Bello University, Zaria.
10.
Dr. J.S. Mari, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education, Ahmadu
Bello University, Zaria.
11.
Dr. O.I. Inekwe, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education, Ahmadu
Bello University, Zaria.
12.
Dr. (Mrs.) Eleanor Uchenna Leleji, Demonstration Secondary School,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
13.
Mrs. Barakat Abubakar is a Lecturer in the Department of English, Federal
College of Education, Zaria.
14.
Dr. Sadiq Mohammed is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
4
15.
Dr. Nebath Tanglang is an Associate Professor in the Department of
Physical of Health Education, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri.
16.
Mr. Shettima Mustapha is a Lecturer in the Department of Physical and
Health Education, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri.
17.
Mr. Apagu Kambayari is a Lecturer in the Department of Physical and
Health Education, College of Education Science and Technology Bama,
Borno State.
18.
Dr. A.G. Suleiman is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Physical and
Health Education, Bayero University, Kano.
19.
Dr. (Mrs.) M.A. Suleiman is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of
Physical and Health Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
20.
Mrs. Vercit Dashe is a Lecturer in the Department of Physical and Health
Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
21.
Mr. Ezra Gunen is a Lecturer in the Department of Physical and Health
Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
22.
Dr. (Mrs) C.O. Adegbite is a Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Education,
Ahmadu Bello University Zaria
23.
Mr. Shehu Adaramaja is a Lecturer in the Department of Physical and
Health Education, University of Ilorin, Ilorin.
24.
Dr. (Mrs) O.A. Adekiya is a Lecturer in the Department of Geography,
Bayero University, Kano.
25.
Dr. Abimbola O. Odumosu, Officer in charge of Staff Training, Nigeria
Institute of Transport Technology, Zaria.
26.
Dr. A.A. Udoh is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Vocational and
Technical Education, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.
27.
Dr. M.M. Aliyu is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Vocational and
Technical Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
28.
Dr. James Timothy is a Lecturer in the Department of Biology, Federal
College of Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
5
29.
Mr. B.I. Okeh is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Vocational and
Technical Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
30.
Dr. (Mrs) V.O. Babalola is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of
Vocational and Technical Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
31.
Mr. E.J. Chom is a Lecturer in the Department of Physical and Health
Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
32.
Dr. A.A. Ladan is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
6
PREFACE
The journal of Education and Development is the singular publication that
is Faculty based in this great faculty of Education. Great leaders who were
inspiring in the academic initiated the journal but after a few issues, the journal
got lost in its voyage to greatness. The last volume was in 1991.
As a faculty with great potential both in human, intellectual and also in
material resources, a search light was kindled to trace the path of the Journals
voyage to a point of departure from its normal route. Not too far yet from its
normal route it was discovered by the present faculty leadership and brought
back on course.
It is therefore gratifying under the meticulous and painstaking leadership
and support of the journal committee to see the production of what one may call
a re-maiden issue after almost a decade and a half of lying in state.
Journals are essential academic endowment which any serious-minded
academic unit can not pay a liming service to. While it is a melting port for
academic exposition of ideas from junior and senior academics, it is a source to
be diligently put in place for the development and marketing of individuals and
their potentials beyond their inner rings.
While on our part as current leaders in this Faculty, we are determined to
develop our human capacity through this means, the staff must on their part
seize the opportunity to enhance their academic potentials in engaging in
7
researches and making the findings known to the entire world through this
journal.
At this point, the Journal Committee under the Chief Editor must be
heartily congratulated for their zeal and understanding of the environment they
called to service at this period. Their dedication can only be seen from the
production of this journal. The entire Faculty appreciates you and will continue to
count on this dedication for a systematic and continuous production of the
Journal.
To all writers, writing is a task which you must learn and relearn how to
do. An unsuccessful outing should not terminate the entire process. The art of
writing is a skill which you have no choice but to acquire and develop if you are
to remain relevant in academics. The more unsuccessful trials you have, the
more motivated you should be to inquire and practice how it is being done. Your
perseverance will soon be rewarded by finding your paper in this great journal
one day. Keep trying until you win the race and it is not too long again.
8
CONTENTS
1.
Determinants of Help-seeking Behaviour
Dr. (Mrs) E.F. Adeniyi
2.
The Family and Harmful Traditional Practices in Nigeria-Implications for
Girl-child Education
Mr. Fuandai Corenlius Mada
3.
The Effects of Concept Mapping Strategy on Cognitive Preferences Modes
of Undergraduate Level Learners at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Tanimowo E. Lawal
4.
An Analysis of the Forms and Functions of the Bound Morphemes-n and-r
in Hausa
M’unir Mamman
5.
Development and Validation of Self-Perception Instrument for Academic
Publication Competence.
Dr. Mustapha, Mohammed Tajordeen
6.
Art as a Forerunner to Technology
Dr. E.A. Buoro
7.
The Relationship Between Philosophy and Education: A Re-emerging
Debate
Mr. Raymond Bako
8.
The History of the New Testament Canon
Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Joseph Mamman
9.
The Teaching and Learning of Christian Religious Education in the
Attainment of National Objectives
Dr. J.S. Kwasau
10.
Striving for Gender Equality in Science and Technology and Mathematics
Education in Nigeria
Dr. J.S. Mari
11.
Misconceptions of Definitions Denting Geometric Problem Solving at the
Secondary School Levels
Dr. O.I. Inekwe
9
12.
The Summary Writing Component of the National Curriculum for Senior
Secondary Schools in Nigeria: A Case for a Review
Dr. (Mrs) Eleanor Uchenna, Leleji
13.
Psycho-socio-linguistic Factors that Facilitate Achievement in Senior
Secondary School Certificate English Language.
Mrs. Barakat Abubakar
14.
Readability of Selected Hausa Textbooks as Determined by the Close Test
Procedure
Dr. Sadiq Mohammed
15.
The Role of Computer Information Technology (ICT) in Journalism
Ojonugwa Anthony Obaje.
16.
History of corporate sports sponsorship in Nigeria
Dr. Nebath Tanglang and Shettima Mustapha
17.
Development of Women Potentials in Sports Participation in Nigeria
Democratic Society: An overview. Mr. Kambayari Apagu
18.
Impact of School Sports on Sports Development in Borno State
Mr. Shettima Mustapha, Prof. B.A. Ladani and Prof. (Mrs) F.B. Adeyanju
19.
Administrative Concerns in the Making of Champion Athletes
Dr. A.G. Suleiman
20.
Cardiovascular Responses to Cold Pressor test Among Selected Female
Athletes
Dr. (Mrs) M.A. Suleiman
21.
Differences Between Nigeria University Female Athletes and Non-athletes
in Their Menarchial Age
Mrs. V. Dashe and Prof. K. Vankateswarlu
22.
A Development Model for Promoting and Supporting Exercise Adoption
Mr. Ezra Gunen
23.
Adolescent Pregnancy Strategies for Prevention and Management
Dr. (Mrs) C.O. Adegbite
24.
The Influence Environmental Factors on the Adolescent Health
Dr. (Mrs) M.A. Suleiman and Mr. Shehu R. Adaramaja
10
25.
Solid Waste Management in Bodija Market, Ibadan
Dr. (Mrs) O.A. Adekiya
26.
Towards an Optimal Efficiency of Public Transportation Buses in Lagos
Metropolis
Dr. Abimola O. Odumosu
27.
The Senior Secondary School Accounting Curriculum and Its Relevance to
Societal Needs: Views of Small Scale Employers and Business Educators.
Dr. A.A. Udoh
28.
Relationship between Entry Qualification (Mathematics) and Computer
Application on Students Performance: A Case Study of Business Education
Section, A.B.U. Zaria
Dr. M.M. Aliyu
29.
Effects of Combining Concept Mapping and Reflective Writing Strategies
on Academic Achievement of Pre-service NCE Students in Biology
Dr. James Timothy
30.
Secretarial Profession and Self-Reliance
Dr. M.M. Aliyu
31.
Utilizing Indigenous Technology in the Preservation and Storage of Food
Grains in Imo State
Mr. B.I. Okeh
32.
Carpets, rugs and Upholstered Furniture in Modern Housing Environment:
Selection and Care
Dr. (Mrs.) V.O. Babalola
11
THE INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON THE ADOLESCENT’S
HEALTH
BY
DR (MRS.) M.A. SULEIMAN
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
AND
SHEHU, R. ADARAMAJA
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, ILORIN, NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
Factors such as lifestyle, environment and social support network are crucial to
understanding how people make decisions about health and behaviour. Peoples’
decisions and patterns of coping affect their psychological, physical as well as
social health. Lifestyle, social, psychological and environmental factors have
profound effects on health and well being, but information on how these factors
are defined, and how they influence health is urgently required. This paper,
therefore, examines the influence of social, psychological and environmental
factors on the health of the adolescents. It also looks into the various
consequences of unhealthy behaviour and how they affect the well being of the
adolescent.
12
Introduction
The relevance of the wider social structure and its influence on the life
style and health of the adolescent has begun to be identified along side the
development of social concept of health (WHO, 1993). In the past, people have
not been considered active participants in their own health care. In most
people’s minds, the health field and the personal medical care system are
synonymous. This has been due in large part to the powerful image projected by
medicine in its role in the control of infective and parasitic diseases (WHO,
1998).
To
understand
how
people
participate
in
health
maintenance,
comprehensive information is needed on how people think and act in relation to
health, including details of their beliefs, attitudes, knowledge and awareness of
health matters (Adesina, 1990). It has been suggested that the individual strives
to maintain a healthy balance and an equilibrium achievement by reducing health
risks and improving healthy resources, including health potential (Dean, 1993).
Recently, there has been considerable interest by researchers (WHO,
1993; James, 1990; Shipley, 1994) on how to control the various environmental
factors in order to improve the health of the adolescent. According to WHO
(1997) the major causes of death among the adolescents in Africa are external
causes, and that the increasing prevalence of unhealthy life style is a worrying
sign since it is likely to result in higher mortality. In a country like Nigeria, where
13
there is rapid increase in population there is the need to examine the influence of
the environment on the adolescents’ health.
Factors Influencing Health
Health is influenced by a variety of external factors based on the complex
interactions between the individual and his immediate environment. Numerous
among these are social, psychological and environmental factors. The social
environment plays a decisive role in the adolescents’ capacity to maintain and
promote their health and to prevent diseases (Adesina, 1990).
Of
central
importance
in
understanding
this
extension
are
the
psychological factors within the relationship between the adolescent and the
environment (Dean, 1994).
Psychological Factors
Burada (1994) has highlighted those environmental conditions which led
to a sudden and serious or long lasting overload on the adolescents health within
the environment as the psychological risks. These, as stated above, have
consequently caused maladjustment at the physical and/or emotional levels and
in lifestyle and social behaviour.
Researchers have tended to categorize these psychological factors into
three places such as: threatening life events, strain at home and school, and
major transitions in the lifestyle (Dean, 1994; Harris, 1999).
14
Social Factors
Recently, efforts to identify factors influencing the social health of the
adolescent has shifted to the intervening variables such as health, beliefs, self
esteem, personality factors, coping ability and social support (Catford; 1993). All
these variables relate to adolescents potential ability to control their own life
styles.
Life styles, are patterns of behavioral choices made from the alternative
that is available to people according to their socio-economic circumstances and
to the case with which they are able to choose certain ones over others (WHO,
1993).
Environmental Factors
Environment is considered a crucial factor in the health and well-being of
the adolescent. Everything within the environment ranging from the air, water
and chemical products, etc, has tremendous impact on the well-being of the
individual. This does not exclude both the psychological and social environment.
All these external factors, both natural and man-made are capable of affecting
health and well-being of the adolescent (Catford, 1993).
Life Style and The Adolescents Health
The concept of lifestyle has been proposed as a bridge between individual
and his immediate environment. Reference is then made to healthy and
unhealthy life styles. An analysis is needed of why the adolescents adopt
unhealthy behaviour as a reaction of pressures in their daily lives (Lazarus 1994).
15
The adolescent adopts a healthy life style by avoiding the risk of breakdown and
illness with the help of various health potential variables. They can also be predisposed to unhealthy lifestyles when short-term reactions to stress, such as
alcohol and drug abuse, smoking, obesity or risk-taking become long term, firmly
established patterns of behaviour (WHO, 1981).
To understand the processes that influence the adolescent to healthy or
unhealthy lifestyles, the new measures of positive and negative health as
proposed by World Health Organization in 1981, must be adopted. Therefore,
more specific tools need to be designed to access the concept of health held by
different social and cultural groups in the various societies of the world (WHO),
1981).
Life styles may be positively related to health: health and disease are the
expressions of the relative degree of success or failure experienced by the
adolescent as he/she tries to respond adaptively to environmental changes and
also to the inner demands created by the adolescent by traditions and
aspirations (Dubos, 1998).
In the practice of traditional medical epidemiology, lifestyle has been used
without considering socio-psychological content. This has usually led to blaming
the victim, or saying that unhealthy lifestyles are due to people themselves
without any consideration of living conditions (Dubos, 1998). Some of the
lifestyles affecting the adolescent’s health are discussed as follows:
16
(A)
Smoking
The World Health Organization WHO (1997) estimates that there are
about 1.1 billion daily smokers in the world, equivalent to one third of all persons
aged 15 years or over. Eight hundred million of those smokers are male, and 700
million live in developing countries, Nigeria inclusive. Globally, almost half (47%)
of all men smoke; only 12% of women do so (WHO, 1997).
WHO, (1993) highlighted that between 1980 – 1982 and 1990 – 1992
cigarette consumption declined by 1.5 per cent annually in developed market –
economy countries and remained relatively constant in countries with economies
in transition, and rose by 1.4% annually in developing countries. Epidemiological
research has shown that smoking increases markedly the risk of developing
cancer of the lungs and of the upper – aerodigestive track and slightly less so
the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, because cardiovascular disease is a
more common cause of death than the other causes related to smoking, the
impact of smoking is greatest in increasing the number of deaths due to
cardiovascular disease among the adolescents (WHO, 1997).
It is estimated that in 1995 tobacco smoking was responsible for 1.9
million deaths in developing countries, 1.2 million of which occurred in the
developed market-economy countries. In developing countries, smoking-related
deaths amounted to 1.6 million, half of which occurred in China and Nigeria
among the youths. By 2020, smoking is expected to cause 8.4 million deaths
annually, of which 6 million will be in the developing world. That year, smoking
will be the leading cause of death among the adolescents in the world (WHO,
1997).
17
(B)
Alcohol
In contrast with smoking, the effect of alcohol consumption on
survivorship is not necessarily negative. When consumed at low levels, alcohol
provides some protection against Ischaemic heart disease. However, moderate
to high levels of alcohol intake increase the incidence of cirrhosis of the liver,
certain cancers, some types of cardiovascular disease, and traumatic or violent
deaths due to accidents particularly among the adolescents (WHO, 1997). It is
estimated, that alcohol causes 1.25 million deaths annually, 625,000 because of
injuries and 620,000 because of disease. (WHO, 1993).
(C)
Aids
Another growing threat to adolescents’ well-being is undoubtedly the AIDS
epidemic caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Because sexual
intercourse is the main mode of transmission of HIV, behavioural factors,
particularly of the adolescents, are the root of the epidemic and need to be
addressed if the epidemic is to be brought under control (WHO, 1997). Although
basic information on the prevalence of HIV infection and AIDS is generally poor,
it is estimated that between 1992 and 1995, another 1.5 million had become
infected. The high prevalence of HIV infection among the adolescents is resulting
in mortality increases. The economic and social consequences of AIDS epidemic
impose major burdens on countries that are ill-prepared to face them (WHO,
1997).
18
There is therefore an urgent need to combat the further spread of the
disease by promoting the use of condoms and the avoidance of sex with multiple
partners and by reducing the likelihood of transmission through the treatment of
sexually-transmitted diseases (WHO, 1993; WHO, 1997).
Other factors that affect the risk of morbidity and mortality among the
adolescents are diet and exercise. With regard to diet, there is strong evidence
linking high level of saturated fat intake to the incidence of cardiovascular
disease, especially ischaemic heart disease (Dean, 1994). Nutrition and dietary
factors are more likely to have an important influence on survivorship of the
adolescent than genetic factors, since genetic composition has essentially
remained the same.
Environmental Hazards and The Adolescent Health
Better health, a longer life with less sickness, is crucial to a better
standard of living. Yet, worsening environmental conditions in many areas
threaten to reverse gains made in pubic health over the last several decades
(WHO, 1993).
Millions of adolescents die every year from illnesses caused by
environmental pollution, and millions more suffer chronic disabilities such as
diminished physical strength and endurance, lower intelligence, and lack of
alertness (WHO, 1993). The poor adolescent suffer most because they have no
choice but to face unsanitary living conditions, malnourishment, exposure to
infectious organisms and toxic chemicals, and lack of health services.
19
Malnutrition results in weakened condition, poor health, impaired intellectual
development, and low productivity. Altogether, diseases caused or aggravated by
polluted environment kill an estimated 10 to 25 million adolescents in Africa
yearly (WHO,1993). Many adolescents risk mental retardation due to exposure to
lead in the air, water and soil, mainly from leaded fuel burned by vehicles. Health
effects of exposure to hazardous wastes include cancer and damage to liver,
kidney and eyes (WHO, 1998).
The adolescents health habits and behaviour constitute what he does and
what he fails to do, ranging from smoking, overeating, inactivity, drug abuse,
and participation in an un protected sexual relationship.
The World Health Organization (1993) reported that there is a strong
negative relationship between adolescents’ mortality rates and lifestyle practices.
This has serious negative consequences on the nation’s health status and
survival.
WHO (1993) highlighted conditions that lead individuals to engage in
unhealthy lifestyle practices such as lack of adequate health knowledge,
acquisition of misinformation about health matters, development of hazardous
lifestyles, and health efforts of government and other social institutions. Over 30
million people worldwide were estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS virus as at
the end of 1997, around 1.1 million of whom were adolescents. More than 90 per
cent of all cases are to be found in developing countries (WHO,1997).
20
Chronic and degenerative diseases are also emerging thereby increasing
proportion of all deaths among the adolescents in the developing word. A key
intersection of health and development concerns has been the lifestyle and the
environment. Poor environmental quality is linked to diarrhea diseases,
respiratory infections and a variety of parasitic diseases, as well as cardio
vascular diseases and cancer.
Accidents and violent events leading to injury or death of the adolescents
are other aspects of environmental factors causing high morbidity and mortality
rate among adolescents. WHO (1990).
Highlighted that about one in every 10 deaths in the developing world was
attributable to such condition. Accidents and injuries accounted for 12.5 per cent
of all deaths among male adolescents and 7.4 per cent among female
adolescents. Road accidents were the most important causes of death of the
adolescent worldwide (WHO, 1990).
Traditionally, injuries have been a neglected public health problem
because authorities do not perceive them as amenable to intervention. However,
much is known about effective interventions to reduce injuries and health and
other authorities must take the lead in adopting measures to reduce morbidity
and mortality associated with preventable injuries and violence.
21
Conclusion
Although many countries face major challenges in maintaining the gains
made in reducing mortality or in achieving further reductions among the
adolescents, current knowledge provides a good basis for the design and
implementation of effective interventions. Given that a number of behavioural
factors have a very significant influence on health and longevity, public health
authorities have the responsibilities of promoting those behaviour that are most
likely to enhance the chances of adolescent for a long and healthy life. The
means to do so exist, but the will to intervene must be strengthened.
22
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Dean, K. (1993). Influence of Health Beliefs on Lifestyles: What Do We Know?
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