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

Health risk behaviour (HRB) in adolescence remains a significant public health concern, withsexual 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 HRBsrelated factors, specifically among in-school adolescents. This study therefore, examined socialfactors as predictors of health risk behaviours among in-school adolescents in Ibadan South EastLocal Government Area (IBSELGA), Oyo State. Descriptive survey research design was adoptedusing simple random, purposive and proportionate stratified technique were used to select 257respondents; while questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive and inferential Statisticsof multiple regression were used for data analysis. The results revealed that, there were significantjoint prediction of social (F(4,252)=223.040, p<0.05) on health risk behaviours among in-schooladolescents 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 riskbehaviours among in-school adolescents respectively; while peer influence (β=-0.012, p>0.05) didnot. Conclusively, there were significant joint prediction of social factors on health risk behavioursamong in-school adolescents in Ibadan South East Local Government Area. Family background,environment, media, had significant prediction on health risk behaviours among in-schooladolescents respectively; while peer influence did not. The study recommends that the Departmentof Health should therefore, intensify efforts to organize periodic and effective health educationprogramme on health risk behaviours, specifically for in-school adolescents in IBSELGA.