Social Factors as Predictors of Health Risk Behaviours among In-school Adolescents in Ibadan South East Local Government Area, Oyo State

Abstract

Health risk behaviour (HRB) in adolescence remains a significant public health concern, with
sexual risk behaviour representing 21-64% among unmarried adolescents in sub-sahara Africa.
Similarly, HRBs accounted for approximately two-thirds of all premature deaths in adults,
originating from childhood risk behaviours. Despite this, there is a paucity of studies on HRBs
related factors, specifically among in-school adolescents. This study therefore, examined social
factors as predictors of health risk behaviours among in-school adolescents in Ibadan South East
Local Government Area (IBSELGA), Oyo State. Descriptive survey research design was adopted
using simple random, purposive and proportionate stratified technique were used to select 257
respondents; while questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive and inferential Statistics
of multiple regression were used for data analysis. The results revealed that, there were significant
joint prediction of social (F(4,252)=223.040, p<0.05) on health risk behaviours among in-school
adolescents in IBSELGA. There were significant relative prediction of family background
(β=0.530, p<0.05), environment (β=0.313, p<0.05), media (β=-(0.440, p<0.05) on health risk
behaviours among in-school adolescents respectively; while peer influence (β=-0.012, p>0.05) did
not. Conclusively, there were significant joint prediction of social factors on health risk behaviours
among in-school adolescents in Ibadan South East Local Government Area. Family background,
environment, media, had significant prediction on health risk behaviours among in-school
adolescents respectively; while peer influence did not. The study recommends that the Department
of Health should therefore, intensify efforts to organize periodic and effective health education
programme on health risk behaviours, specifically for in-school adolescents in IBSELGA.