RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LIFESTYLES AND HEALTH PROBLEMS SUFFERED BY THE PEOPLE OF BASSA LOCAL GOVT OF PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
CHAPTER 1----INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The way a particular individual or group chose to function in life constitute as their Lifestyle which is also formed by political, religious, economic, cultural, and religious context. It consists of the character exhibited by people of a particular community. These consist ofthe dailyactivities, job, diet and leisure activities (Dariush, 2015). The study on lifestyle as a determinant on the state of health of an individual has attracted attention by researchers in recent times. The world health organization indicated that 60% of health related problems of individuals are attributed to the quality of lifestyle of the individual. Recent report shows that a great number of people adopt an unhealthy life style that is the reason why they suffer from different illnesses, disability and untimely death.
Diseases such as metabolic diseases, overweight, violence, skeletal andjoint problems, cardio-vascular diseases, hypertension, and so on, can be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. Therefore,it is apparent that the relationship of lifestyle and health is factor to consider.There are various lifestyles such as exercise, sex, diet, medication abuse, substance abuse,sleep and use of modern technology.For example, continuous exercise with healthy diet improves healthy living. Sex isnecessary forhealthy life; but when it is abused leads to Sexual diseases.The problem of obesity is caused by poor diet. Self-treatment, sharing medication, using medications without prescription etc., leads to health complications. The effect associated with Smoking and using other substance includes cardiovascular disease, asthma, cancer, brain injury.The neglect of not having a good sleep could lead to several social, psychological, economical and healthy consequences. While, the Misuse of technology as computer and phones to midnights may affect our pattern of sleep. The study seeks to investigate the relationship between lifestyles and health problems suffered by people of Bassa local government of plateau state of Nigeria.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The high incidence of health related problems in our communities call for adequate attention. The type of lifestyle exhibited by people of a given community is determined in the context of political, religious, economic, cultural, and religious factors. Consquently, many people are not aware of the consequences of their lifestyle on their health conditions. The level of health related disease in our communities is increasing at an alarming rate due to unwholesome lifestyles. The problem confronting the study is to investigate the relationship between lifestyles and health problems suffered by people of Bassa local government of plateau state of Nigeria.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The fundamental objective of the study is to investigate the relationship between lifestyles and health problems suffered by people of Bassa local government of plateau state of Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study include;
1. To determine the types of lifestyle of people.
2. To determine the relationship between lifestyles and health problems suffered by people.
3. To determine the relationship between lifestyles and health problems suffered by people of Bassa local government of plateau state of Nigeria.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What are the types of lifestyle of people?
2. What is the relationship between lifestyles and health problems suffered by people?
3. What is therelationship between lifestyles and health problems suffered by people of Bassa local government of plateau state of Nigeria?
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
Ho1: There is no significant relationship between lifestyle and health problems suffered by the people of Bassa local government of Plateau state, Nigeria.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study intends to provide valuable information concerning lifestyle and their effect on health related issues affecting people of all groups.
It shall also be serve a useful purpose for provide counsel to people who are addicted to certain lifestyles.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study focuses on the appraisal of the relationship between lifestyles and health problems suffered by people of Bassa local government of plateau state of Nigeria.
1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The research was restricted to BASA local government of plateau state due to logistics and geographical factors.
1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS
LIFESTYLE DEFINED
The way a particular individual or group chose to function in life constitute as their Lifestyle which is also formed by political, religious, economic, cultural, and religious context. It consists of the character exhibited by people of a particular community. These consist ofthe dailyactivities, job, diet and leisure activities.
SLEEP DEFINED
Sleep is viewed as the state of rest by natural suspension of bodily functions.
HEALTHY SEXUAL LIFE DEFINED
Healthy sexual life is practicing safe sex and abstinence from sexually transmitted diseases.
REFERENCES
Dariush D. FARHUD (2015) Impact of Lifestyle on Health; Iran J Public Health. ; 44(11): 1442–1444.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 INTRODUCTION
More than 70% of Nigerians live in the rural areas, hence there is a need for the government to take the issue of rural development seriously, particularly issues related to the formulation and implementation of rural development policy (Nzimiro, 1985:1-3, 1990 population census). Besides, there is a global concern on issues of poverty and rural development by state governments and theUnited Nations. Any attempt to improve the rural condition is a welcome development. Nzimiro (1985:5-81) argues that: part of the reasons for interest in rural development study is because of the increase in social differentiation between the rural and urban areas. The dwindling quality of rural life had encouraged many rural producers to escape from the suffering of rural poverty to urban misery. The level of development in Nigeria is too low considering the amount of resources at Nigeria’s disposal. I 2 Todaro and Smith (2006:435) have argued in support of this position that: Based on the historical experience of western countries economic development was seen as requiring a rapid structural transformation of the economy from one predominantly focused on agricultural activities to a more complex modern industrial and service sector. As a result, agriculture’s primary role was to provide sufficient low – priced food and manpower to the expanding industrial economy, which was thought to be the dynamic leading sector in any overall strategy of economic development. Todaro and Smith argued further that, today, as we have seen, development economists are less sanguine about the desirability of placing such heavy emphasis on industrialization. They have come to realize that far from playing passive supporting role in the process of economic development, the agricultural sector and the rural economy in general must play an indispensable part in any overall strategy of economic progress. Rural development has been approached from different perspectives, using different models or approaches. Modernization for example is supported by western capitalist countries, where it is seen as the process of transformation of society from its old ways to a new one. Ujo (1994:113) argues that, modernization is a process of total transformation of a traditional society to the type of technology and associated organization that is characteristic of the advanced economically prosperous and relatively politically stable nations of the western world. It is argued by the proponents of modernization that, third world societies are backward because they lack technological skills necessary for development. They need to adopt new western technology and institutions that are more effective and efficient. The solution to the problem, Nkom argues (1995:23) “is assumed to be in 3 the adoption of modern technologies, institutions, managerial systems and ways of doing thing”. Some modernization scholars such as Williams, Mabogunje, Famiriyo see rural development as agrarian transformation, where modern methods of farming are adopted with new high yielding crops that is why the Agricultural Development Projects (ADP) were introduced in the early 1980s. To Mabogunje, it is integrated rural development where different facets or sectors are improved at the same time. Williams (1985), MabogunJe (1992) and Famiriyo (1985) have discussed extensively on this approach which involves agrarian transformation process of infrastructure provision such as construction of schools, clinics, and promotion of small scale enterprises, etc. All of these approaches are classified under the top-down strategy of rural development. There is also the redistributive Justice model whose emphasis is on equity and social justice. The model encourages land redistribution to the poor, access to basic social amenities, and participation by the people in the formulation of rural development policies. Community development is also one of the approaches which lay emphasis on mobilization of the people for self-help. The two approaches are seen as the bottom up approach. Plateau State has adopted one or a combination of the approaches above particularly the adoption of western mechanized methods of farming under the current regime of Jonah Jang. Farm model centres managed by the Israelis, and the Plateau Agricultural Development Programme, a World Bank initiative, with a view to transforming agriculture, which invariably translates into rural development, using the top-down approach to rural development, but rural development goes beyond agricultural transformation. That is why the study of the three selected agencies are helpful if we are to understand the challenges of rural development in Plateau State.
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