Health behaviour and awareness among the adolescents in Kenya: A case study of Kilome Division in Machakos District

Abstract

This is a pioneer study on heal th behaviour and awareness among the adolescents in Kenya. It is a case study of Kilome Division in Machakos District. Adolescents in this study are defined as young persons aged between 13 and 19 years (13 and 19 inclusive). The study focuses mainly on the existing health supportive facilities within the the adolescents' social and physical environment, their understanding (awareness) and practices on health and health related issues. The study (thesis) is presented in six chapters. These include: Problem statement and Justification, Literature review, Methodology, Data presentation and analysis hypothesis 1, Data presentation and analysis hypothesis 2 and conclusion and recommendation. There are appendices as well which include Bibliography, references and questionnaire. This thesis studied sample of N = 317 adolescents. The primary purpose of the study was to assess the target population's level of health behaviour and awareness and the factors affecting such behaviour and awareness. In pursui t of this goal, two hypotheses were postulated and tested. The first hypothesis states that: the unavailability of health supportive facilities is highly associated with low level of health awareness and behaviour. The second hypothesis states that: the strength of traditional attitudes is significantly related to acceptance and adoption of modern health practices. Both hypotheses have been tested and accepted. The study findings suggest that the level of health awareness and behaviour is low and whenever it appears high, the respective respondents generally reflect a high score on the independent variable which by implication suggest better endowment in terms of health supportive facilities. The findings further show that the adolescents usually seek either traditional healing methods or modern medicine depending on the ailment, the assumed cause and possibly the common practices in their families. The practices manifested are closely associated with the attitudes held