MEANINGS OF HEALTH AND DISEASE AND THEIR IMPLICATION ON HEALTH BEHAVIOURS AMONG PREADOLESCENTS AND GUARDIANS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
This study sought to examine the meanings of health and diseases and their implication on health behaviours among preadolescents and guardians, based on existing data of an original study, which was conducted in Langata and Embakasi sub-counties in Nairobi. The study sought to identify the factors that determine preadolescents' and guardians’ definitions and meanings of health and disease; to establish the meanings and definitions of obesity and non-communicable diseases among preadolescents and their guardians; and to explain the implication of meanings and definitions of obesity and non-communicable diseases on health behaviours among preadolescents and guardians in Nairobi City County, Kenya. William Cockerham's, "Health Lifestyle Theory" guided the study. The study employed secondary data analysis research to systematically investigate the meanings and definitions of health and disease in preadolescents and guardians. The study relied solely on existing data of the Kenya-Finland Education and Research Alliance (KENFIN-EDURA) project in the course of the research process. The sampling of the data sets was conducted until a saturation point was reached. Since this study adopted a qualitative approach, the secondary data from the original study’s coded transcripts were analysed using the thematic analysis technique. Eight IDI and six FGD transcripts were included in the analysis when saturation point was reached. The findings of the study revealed that various factors influence people’s perceptions, understanding, and practices, particularly concerning preadolescents' and children’s eating habits and lifestyles. These include gender, family environments, religion, culture, maternal influences, socioeconomic status, education level of the parents and household members, as well as their living environments (obesogenic environments). The study concluded that parents/guardians, preadolescents, and other stakeholders understand the basic definitions of health and had the basic knowledge of obesity and diseases. The study recommended that public health strategies should focus on encouraging parental healthy-eating attitudes rather than simply educating parents on what to feed their children, recognizing the important influence of parental behaviour on children’s practices.
Key Words: Health, Diseases, Preadolescents Behaviours
CITATION: John, D. K., Owino, G. E., & Barasa, S. F. (2023). Meanings of health and disease and their implication on health behaviours among preadolescents and guardians in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management, 10 (1), 123 – 148.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.61426/sjbcm.v10i1.2530
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