The Relationship between Adolescents' Family Background, Perceived Self-Concept and Health Seeking Behaviour in an Urban City of South-Western Nigeria

Abstract

Background and objectives:
The understanding of adolescents about themselves affects their choices and actions when their health is concerned. This study assessed the relationship between family background, perceived self-concept and health seeking behaviour of adolescents.

Methods:
This was a prospective cross-sectional study involving three secondary schools in Ekiti State, South-western Nigeria. A total of 352 students were recruited through multistage random sampling technique. The Personal Self-Concept Questionnaire (PSC) was used to assess the adolescents' personal self-concept while the health seeking behaviour was adapted from the Botsha Bophelo Adolescent Health Study (BBAHS) adapted questionnaire. The family background was sought from the respondents. Demographic variables were described as means and standard deviations. Categorical variables were reported as frequency distribution and proportions with the Pearson correlation test used to assess the relationship of relevant variables with self-concept.

Results:
There was negative correlation between the adolescents' family social class and their autonomy self-concept (r = -0.117; p<0.029). Out of the 42% who had any form of ill-health, 29.6% had sought for medical attention, 8.5% were sexually exposed, 4% and 4.8% were screened for HIV and the use of contraception respectively. Having been hospitalized in the past six months related with their general self-concept (r = -0.124; p<0.02) and sense of fulfillment (r = -0.118; p<0.027). Use of cannabis negatively correlated with general self-concept (r = -0.132; p<0.013) and honesty self-concept (r = -0.127; p<0.017). Sexual exposure correlated negatively with emotional self-concept (r = -0.116; p<0.03).

Conclusion:
From this study, the socioeconomic class of the family of the adolescents affected their individuality. In addition, adolescents with high self-concept will not easily seek for appropriate medical attention.

Full text

WEST AFRICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
ISSN 0189 - 160X
VOLUME 39, NUMBER 11
November 2022
WAJM
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF
THE WEST AFRICAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND
WEST AFRICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS
ORIGINALITY AND EXCELLENCE IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY
www.w ajmed .org

West African Journal of Medicine Vol. 39, No. 11, November, 2022
WEST AFRICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
1A
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAL INFORMATION 1C
INFORMATION FOR AUTHORS 1F
EDITORIAL NOTES – The Stroke Epidemic and Associated Co-morbidities by Prof. Gregory E. Erhabor..................................... 1111
10-Year Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus – A Survey of Rural Communities in Southern Nigeria....................... 1113
A. O. Idowu, O. A. Adesegun, A. Akintunde, B. A. Alalade, B. T. Osibowale, O. I. Odelola, J. O. Ogunkoya, A. A. Idowu,
A. O. Ayoade, O. A. Omokore, O. T. Imishue
Challenges of Case Management of COVID-19 in University of Uyo Teaching Hospital: A One-Year Experience .................. 1119
I. P. Oloyede, A. Onukak, O. O. Motilewa, A. Ekuma, S. Udoette, C. Eyo, E. K. Abudu, V. A. Umoh, E. Bassey, E. Peters
Fungal Nail Infections amongst Cassava Farmers and Processors in Southwest Nigeria ........................................................... 1127
O. O. Ayanlowo, R. O. Oladele
Immunohistochemical Study and Clinicopathologic Correlation of Cox-2 and Her-2 Expression in Colorectal Carcinoma:
A 5-Year Retrospective Study................................................................................................................................................................ 1134
L. A. Odukoya, K. B. Badmos, G. Khramtsova, L. A. Adebayo, O. I. Olopade, F. B. Abdulkareem
The Impact of Co-Morbidities on the Pattern of Blood Pressure Control in Elderly Hypertensives in Nigeria ...........................1141
C. N. Ugwu, C. I. Okafor, E. C. Ejim, N. I. Ugwu, N. M. Chika-Igwenyi, N. Obeka, R. C. Ikeagwulonu, T. C. Iyidobi,
U. U. Nnadozie, F. O. Afolabi , A. U. Kalu, G. C. Isiguzo
Phenotypic Characterisation of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Patients in Healthcare Institutions in Zaria Metropolis,
Kaduna State, Nigeria .......................................................................................................................................................................... 1148
I. A. Joshua, F. J. Giwa, J. K. P. Kwaga, J. Kabir, O. A. Owolodun, G. A. Umaru, A. G. Habib
The Relationship between Adolescents’ Family Background, Perceived Self-Concept and Health Seeking Behaviour in an
Urban City of South-Western Nigeria ................................................................................................................................................. 1156
T. A. Agbesanwa, A. O. Ibrahim, O. E. Adegbilero-Iwari, A. A. Oniyide, W. O. Ismail, Y. O. Akinola
Awareness and Adherence to COVID-19 Preventive Measures among Oral Health Care Workers in Nigeria........................... 1165
L. L. Enone, A. Oyapero, J. O. Makanjuola, R. O. Ojikutu
Short Term Visual and Refractive Outcome following Surgical Intervention for Posterior Capsule Opacification (PCO) in
Children in a Tertiary Eye Hospital ................................................................................................................................................... 1174
Q. I. Sazzad, M. Hossain, H. Alimi, M. Khatun, M. R. Chowdhury, S. Toufique, S. M. Naznin
Preferences, Utilization and Factors affecting Use of Contraceptives among Women attending Primary Health Care
Facilities in Delta State, Southern Nigeria....................................................................................................................................... 1180
D. T. Obong, N. S. Awunor, P. G. Oyibo
Prevalence of Hyponatremia in Acute Stroke Patients in a Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria.............................. 1188
C. O. Eze, O. F. Afolabi, A. U. Kalu
An Evaluation of Renal Care received by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Patients admitted in a Tertiary Hospital
in Sierra Leone...................................................................................................................................................................................... 1193
J. Coker, A. Niang, I. Turay, S. Lakoh, V. Conteh, J. B.W. Russell
Assessment of MTR Rs1805087 SNP as Possible Modifier of Sickle Cell Disease Severity in a Nigerian Population............. 1198
V. O. Osunkalu, A. A. Ogbenna, N. O. Davies, F. O. Olowoselu, O. E. Aiyelokun, O. J. Akinsola, I. A. Taiwo
Quest to Improve Management of Prostate Cancer in West Africa: Development of a Clinical Audit Tool................................ 1205
S. O. Osaghae
Roll Back Stroke: The Way Forward for Physicians and Patients................................................................................................... 1209
Y. Ogun, A. Morawo
CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE
INDEX TO VOLUME 39, NO. 11, 2022
Author Index ................................................................................................................................................................................. 1215
Subject Index ................................................................................................................................................................................ 1216
E-PUBLISHED
1217
F. E. Bennani, L. Doudach, Y. El rhayam, K. Karrouchi, Y. Cherrah, A. Tarib,M. Ansar, M. E. A. Faouzi
Identification of the new progress on Pyrazole Derivatives Molecules as Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents .............................

West African Journal of Medicine Vol. 39, No. 11, November, 2022
RÉSUMÉ
CONTEXTE ET OBJECTIFS: La compréhens io n qu e les
adolescents ont d’eux-mêmes affecte leurs choix et leurs actions
lorsqu’il s’agit de leur santé. Cette étude vise à évaluer la relation
entre le milieu familial, la perception de soi et le comportement des
adolescents en matière de santé.
MÉTHODES: Il s’agit d’une étude prospective transversale portant
sur trois écoles secondaires de l’État d’Ekiti, au sud-ouest du Nigeria.
Un tot al de 352 étudiants a été recruté par une technique
d’échantillonnage aléatoire à plusieurs degrés dans les écoles
sélectionnées. Le Personal Self-Concept Questionnaire (PSC) a été
utilisé pour évaluer le concept de soi des adolescents, tandis que le
comportement en matière de santé a été adapté à partir du questionnaire
adapté de la Botsha Bophelo Adolescent Health Study (BBAHS). Le
contexte familial a été demandé aux répondants. Les variables
démographiques ont été décrites sous forme de moyennes et d’écarts
types. Les variables catégorielles ont été rapportées sous forme de
distribution de fréquence et de proportions. Le test de corrélation de
Pearson a été utilisé pour évaluer la relation entre les variables
pertinentes et le concept de soi.
RÉSULTATS: Il existe une corrélation négative entre la classe sociale
familiale des adolescents et leur concept d’autonomie (r = -0.117 ;
p<0.029). Sur les 42% qui présentaient une forme quelconque de
mauvaise santé, 29,6% avaient consulté un médecin, 8,5% étaient
sexuellement exposés, 4% et 4,8% étaient respectivement dépistés
pour le VIH et l’utilisation de la contraception. Le fait d’avoir été
hospitalisé au cours des six derniers mois était lié à l’image générale de
soi (r = -0,124 ; p<0,02) et au sentiment d’accomplissement (r =
-0,118 ; p<0,027). La consommation de cannabis est corrélée
négativement avec le concept général de soi (r = -0,132 ; p<0,013) et
le concept d’honnêteté (r = -0,127 ; p<0,017). L’exposition sexuelle
est corrélée négativement avec le concept de soi émotionnel (r = -
0,116 ; p<0,03).
CONCLUSION: D’après cette étude, la classe socio-économique
de la famille des adolescents a affecté leur individualité. De plus, les
adolescents ayant un concept de soi élevé ne chercheront pas facilement
à obtenir des soins médicaux appropriés. WAJM 2022; 39(11): 1156–
1164.
Mots clés: Adolescents, concept personnel de soi, contexte familial,
comportement de recherche de santé.
WEST AFRICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
The Relationship between Adolescents’ Family Background,
Perceived Self-Concept and Health Seeking Behaviour in an Urban City of
South-Western Nigeria
La Relation entre le Milieu Familial des Adolescents, le Concept de Soi Perçu et le Comportement de
Recherche de la Santé dans une Ville Urbaine du Sud-Ouest du Nigeria
1T. A. Agbesanwa, 2A. O. Ibrahim, 3O. E. Adegbilero-Iwari, 4A. A. Oniyide, 5W. O. Ismail, 6Y. O. Akinola
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The understanding of
adolescents about themselves affects their choices and actions when
their health is concerned. This study assessed the relationship between
family background, perceived self-concept and health seeking
behaviour of adolescents.
METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional study involving
three secondary schools in Ekiti State, South-western Nigeria. A total
of 352 students were recruited through multistage random sampling
technique. The Personal Self-Concept Questionnaire (PSC) was used
to assess the adolescents’ personal self-concept while the health
seeking behaviour was adapted from the Botsha Bophelo Adolescent
Health Study (BBAHS) adapted questionnaire. The family background
was sought from the respondents. Demographic variables were
described as means and standard deviations. Categorical variables
were reported as frequency distribution and proportions with the
Pearson correlation test used to assess the relationship of relevant
variables with self-concept.
RESULTS: There was negative correlation between the adolescents’
family social class and their autonomy self-concept (r = –0.117;
p<0.029). Out of the 42% who had any form of ill-health, 29.6% had
sought for medical attention, 8.5% were sexually exposed, 4% and
4.8% were screened for HIV and the use of contraception respectively.
Having been hospitalized in the past six months related with their
general self-concept (r = –0.124; p<0.02) and sense of fulfillment (r =
–0.118; p<0.027). Use of cannabis negatively correlated with general
self-concept (r = –0.132; p<0.013) and honesty self-concept (r =
–0.127; p<0.017). Sexual exposure correlated negatively with
emotional self-concept (r = –0.116; p<0.03).
CONCLUSION: From this study, the socioeconomic class of the
family of the adolescents affected their individuality. In addition,
adolescents with high self-concept will not easily seek for appropriate
medical attention. WAJM 2022; 39(11): 1156–1164.
Keywords: Adolescents, Personal self-concept, family background,
Health seeking behavior.
1Department of Family Medi cine, Ekiti State University, Ekiti, Nige ria. 2Department of Famil y Medicine, Federal Teaching Hospital,
Id o-Ekiti , Ekiti State, Nigeria. 3Dep ar tment of Co mmu ni ty Medicine, Colleg e of Medicine and Hea lth Sci en ce s, Afe Babalola
Univesity, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. 4Department of Physiology and Integrated General Medical Unit, College of Medicine, Afe
Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. 5Department of Family Medicine OAUTHC, Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. 6Department
of Family Medicine, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
*Correspondence: Dr. Tosin A. Agbesanwa, Department of Family Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
Email: tosinagbesanwa@gmail.com, tosin.agbesanwa@eksu.edu.ng
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

West African Journal of Medicine Vol. 39, No. 11, November, 2022
T. A. Agbesanwa and Associates Adolescents’ Family Background, Perceived Self-Concept and Health Seeking Behaviour
1157
INTRODUCTION
The adolescence period is a very
important phase in the human growth.1,2
In this age range, one striking occurrence
is the rapid growth and changes that
confront adolescents as they traverse
from childhood to adultho od.
Adolescents who are rapidly changing
in outlook are also growing in their
cognitive capacity. Most times, this is the
period the foundation for adulthood is
la id.2,3 Their p ercei ve d exte rnal
appearance has been noted to be of prime
importance to them.2,4 Often times, these
rapid cha nges in t heir physical
appearance makes them to be engrossed
in their identity and self-image.5,6 There
are many factors that contribute to how
the outward appearance of adolescents
in general are perceived.5 From the
influence of their family environment, the
disease conditions exposed to and the
changing developmental changes which
each stage of the adolescence period
exerts on the person, many either perceive
themselves as abnormal or otherwise.7,8
For example, a differential increase weight
compared to others have been reported
to exert a negative influence on self-image
perception of some adolescents.6,9 Many
who have increased weight tends to see
themselves as abnormal while those who
are also lean may also be desirous of
adding more weight.9 All these have an
impact on the outcome of their perception
of self. In addition, the changes that
adolescents go through as they grow
unto adulthood have an impact on the
way they envision themselves into a well-
organized and consistent picture.10
It has been reported that
adolescents’ family background has an
influence on their educational aspiration
and achievement as they mature into
adults.11, 12 In addi ti on to this, the
educational and vocational status of a
parent has also been noted to have an
influence on the body mass index (BMI)
of adolescents.13 The family environment
has a direct impact on the development
of self-efficacy of the adolescent.14 Self-
efficacy which is the belief of an individual
in their ability to behave and act in a
particular way has been found to be a
dominant predictor of intention in the
adolescent.15
The self-concept is a product of an
individual’s self-esteem and self-worth.6
The adolescent’s self-concept deter-
mines the way they see themself and
consequently what they have ability to
do and achieve. The level of interpersonal
communication has been noted to have a
correlation to the adolescent’s self-
concept.16 Most of the time, self-concept
is built as individuals observe the way
other people react to them.17 When an
adolescent has poor self-concept, it goes
a long way to determine the success in
education and or skill acquisition that
they engage in.18 High self-concept has
been noted to have a positive impact on
job opportunities and gives them the
leadership quality and acceptance among
their peers.10 Most time, what people turn
out to be in their adulthood are results of
what they have imbibed in adolescence.
Thus a negative perception of one’s self
image and self-concept generates a
nega tive adult approach to one’s
personal care, relationship with others
and approach to life challenges
This negative perception of an
individual’s self-image and concept
becomes of great importance when the
health seeking behaviour is also affected.
Health seeking behaviours are the steps
taken by people in order to resolve their
health issues when they fall ill.19 Young
people have been reported to seek for
help from informal sources rather than
from formal medical personnel and
hospitals.20 Adolescents and young
people have their own medical challenges
with which they are encumbered. When
they do not seek for help from the right
sources, severe forms of presentation and
comp licatio ns in adultho od is the
outcome. Adolescents are known to be
generally healthy; their exposure to rapid
developmental changes, makes it
imperative that they are well guided on
the use of health services made available
to them.21 Health seeking behaviour are
personal actions to promote optimum
wellness, recovery and rehabilitation.22
They can occur with or without a health
challenge and cover the spectrum from
potential to actual medical problem.
Therefore, contained within this concept
is the aspect of health promotion that is
aimed at preventing disease and includes
behaviour such as lifestyle changes.22
When an adolescent has a poor health
seeking behaviour, it tends to make a
disease condition ge t worse before
medical attention is sought. Many of
these conditions could have been nipped
in the bud if they were presented early.
However, the patients with these ailments
se ek for med ical attentio n when
complications have emerged. These late
presentat ions are common among
adolescents because of thei r poor
attitude t owards seeking medical
attention.2 3 For instance, adolescents
often engage in sexual experimentation
which makes them susceptible to sexually
transmitted infection.23 When they do not
present early because of poor health
seeking behaviour, the conditions get
worse with attendant complications.
This study therefore assessed the
relationship between the family back-
ground of adolescents, their perceived
personal self-concept and their health
seeking behaviour. The essence is to
provide information for parents and care
givers of adolescents on the importance
of building positive relationship with their
wards. In addition, adolescents’ care
givers will know the need to guide them
on proper health care seeking behaviors.
Methodology
This was a pros pective cross-
sectional survey of adolescents in 3
public se condary schools selected
through multistage sampling technique
in Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area
(LGA) of Ekiti State, South-western
Nigeria. This was done by dividing the
secondary schools in Ado Ekiti LGA into
three different groups. A school was
randomly selected from each of the
groups. In the selected schools, using
simple random sampling technique, the
required number of participants were
chosen. In this Local Government, area
there were 23,516 students enrolled in the
public schools by 2021.24 The statistical
formula of Fisher25 for calcula ting
minimum sample size was used where
minimum sample size n= (Z2Pq/d2). p is
the estimate of health seeking behavior
among adolescents which was 26.7%.20
The minimum sample size for this study
was estimated to be 301 respondents. A
non-response rate of 20% was added
making the adjusted sample size of

West African Journal of Medicine Vol. 39, No. 11, November, 2022
1158
T. A. Agbesanwa and Associates Adolescents’ Family Background, Perceived Self-Concept and Health Seeking Behaviour
approximately 361 participants which was
the total number of questionnaires that
was given out. A total of 352 question-
naires were retrieved from the students
which gave 97.5% response rate. A pilot
stud y using the questionnaire was
carried out on 50 participants to validate
and assess the internal consistency of
the items and indicated a Cronbach’s
alpha value of 0.70. The participants in
the pilot study were recruited from
another secondary school in a different
ward in Ado-Ekiti LGA and were not
included in the study.
Study Population
The students in the secondary
schools selected in the LGA.
Inclusion Criteria
Stud ents whose parent gave
consent and those above eighteen who
gave their consent and were within the
age range 10 years to 19 years were
included in the study. Any student that
was acutely ill was excluded from the
study.
Study Instrument
The instrument was developed from
existing literature on personal self-
concept The questionnaire consisted of
three segments: the first segment
incl uded the socio-demo graphic
information about the respondents. The
second section assessed the patients’
personal self-concept using the Structure
of the Personal Self-Concept (PSC)
Questionnaire by Goni et al. in Spain.26
The PSC is a validated tool used to assess
the four dimensions of self-concept and
consists of 18-item statements used to
measure perceptions about self-concept.
These 18-item statements were sub
categorized into Self-fulfillment [SF]
(6 items), Honesty [HON] (3 items),
Autonomy [AU] (4 items), and Emotional
self-concept [ESC] (5 items) .26 SF
meas ur ed how each person saw
themselves in relation to achieving the
objectives they had set for themselves,
feeling fulfilled, meeting their targets,
rising to challenges and their general
achievements. HON depicted how each
person saw themselves in the sense of
being honest, upright and trustworthy in
their behavior. It included aspects such
as being a valuable, honorable and
consistent person who tried not to harm
others; a man or woman of their word.
AU was about how each person saw
themselves as an individual equal to, but
different from others. This included
aspe cts such as: the perception of
oneself as someone who was indepen-
dent and different from others; the feeling
of not being dominated by others; being
able to function without depending on
others. ESC showed how each person
sa w the mselves in the emotional
dimension, in relation to the more
impulsive and reactive aspects of their
personality. The ESC also included the
percept ion of emotio nal bala nce,
sensitivity, recognition and control of
one’s emotions.
The third section had questions
assessing health care seeking behavior
using the Botsha Bophelo Adolescent
Health Study (BBAHS) a dapte d
questionnaire.23 The BBAHS was a
validated questionnaire used in a study
done among adolescents living in
Soweto, South Africa. The definition for
health seeking behavior was accessing
medi cal se rvices and /or being
hospitalized in the 6 months prior to the
survey.23
Procedure for the Study
Three ward s wer e rand omly
selected from the 13 wards in the LGA.
Out of each ward, one public secondary
school was randomly selected for the
study. The survey was conducted using
self-administered questionnaires. This
involved enquiry on the personal data of
the respondent, his or her parents’ data
and the participants’ PSC. The PSC was
assessed by analyzing the participants’
responses on a 5-point Likert scale
ranging from “strongly disagree” to
“strongly agree”. Reverse coding was
utilized where necessary. The responses
with “strongly a gree”– (SA) a nd
“agree”– (A) were pooled together to
form one positive response of agreement.
The same technique was applied for
“str ongly dis agree”– (SD) and
“disagree” (D) to form one negative
response of disagreement.
Participants were weighed in
kilograms to the nearest kg. Height was
meas ur ed using a stadiometer a s
respondents stood barefoot with minimal/
essential dressing and the results were
recorded to the nearest 0.5 cm. BMI was
estimated as the ratio of weight in
kilograms to the square of height in
meters {weight (kg)/height (m2)}.
Ethical Consideration
Informed consent from the parent
or caregiver of respondents who were
less than 18 years of age and informed
consent from students who were 18 years
and above were obtained before the
questionnaires were administered.
Refusal to participate did not in any way
hinder individuals from benefitting from
accessing health care. Ethical approval
was obtaine d from the Ekiti Sta te
University Teaching Hospital Ethics and
Research Committee with Protocol
number EKSUTH/A67/2021/05/14. A
letter of permission from the Ekiti State
Ministry of Education was obtained to
gain access to the schools selected. The
questionnaires were self-administered.
Statistical Analysis
The information obtained from the
questionnaire was cleaned, analyzed and
displayed on tables and charts using
IBM SPSS version 25 (IBM Corporation,
Armo nk , NY, U SA). The general
characteristics of the respondents was
analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Demographic variables, which were
normally distributed, were described as
mean s and standard de vi ations.
Categorical variables were reported as
frequency distribution and proportions
with the Pearson correlation test used to
as sess the relation ship of relevant
variables with self-concept.
RESULTS
Tab le 1 shows the socio-
demographic characteristic s of the
adolescents. Their mean age was 14.3±1.9
years. More than half (52%) were less
than 15 years old. The adolescents were
predominantly females (53.4%) and from
monogamous families (78.4%). A total of
60.8% of the adolescents were from
families in high socioeconomic class.
More than 50% of those studied were
underweight.
Table 2a shows the personal self-
concept of the adolescents. Majority of

West African Journal of Medicine Vol. 39, No. 11, November, 2022
T. A. Agbesanwa and Associates Adolescents’ Family Background, Perceived Self-Concept and Health Seeking Behaviour
1159
the respondents considered themselves
as trustworthy (90.1%), persons of their
word (87.8%), emotionally strong (83%),
very uptight, str ong (78.7%) and
sensitive (71%). Over forty percent
(46.9%) approved that they would not
change very much if they could start their
lives over again. More than one-third
agreed that they found it hard to snap
out of it when feeling down (38.9%), did
not see their promises as sacred (37.5%),
found it difficult to take decisions on their
own (37.3%) and depended too much on
other people’s opinion in taking a
decision (34.4%).
Statements listed in Table 2b were
categorized into four constructs of
fulfilment self-concept, emotional self-
concept, honesty and autonomy self-
concepts. Honesty self-concept had the
highest mean score of 3.88±0.65 standard
deviations. Emotional self-concept had
a mean score of 3.220.47 standard
deviations. Fulfilment self-concept had
a mean score of 3.200.54 standard
deviations. Autonomy self-concept had
the lowest mean score of 3.050.86
standard deviations.
Majority (80.4%) of the adolescents
had ever used drugs while the use of
cannabis was prevalent in over three
percent of the respondents (3.1%). Forty-
two percent (42%) of them had felt a form
of ill health in the past 6 months. Only
4% had ever tested for HIV. In the past
six months 29.3% had sought for medical
attention while 19.6 % had been
hospitalized. While 8.5% had experienced
sexual intercourse before, only 4.8% had
ever utilized contraceptive/condom in the
past. This is shown in Table 3.
When asked about their choice of
health care access in the past 6 months,
a good number of the respondents cited
the use of pharmacy shops (27.6%)
followed by chemist stores (22.2%),
hospitals (22.2%) and medical clinics
(17.3%). School clinics (7.4%), doctor’s
offices, Churches/ Faith homes (6.3%)
were no t so favored. Traditi onal
practitioners (2.3%) and family planning/
abortion clinic (1.1%) were the least
preferred health care providers. This is
depicted in Table 4.
The medical conditions that were
experienced/treated more regularly
among the adolescents were headache/
Table 1: Socio-demographic Characteristics of Adolescents (N=352)
Variables Frequency (n) Percentage (%)
Age (years)
10 – 14 183 52.0
15 – 17 155 44.0
18 – 19 14 4.0
Gender
Male 164 46.6
Female 188 53.4
Repetition of Class
Yes 45 12.8
No 307 87.2
Family Type
Monogamous 276 78.4
Polygamous 76 21.6
Fathers’ education
University Graduates 150 42.6
HND/NCE 50 14.2
Secondary school 108 30.7
Primary school 31 8.8
No formal education 13 3.7
Mothers’ Education
University graduates 126 35.8
HND/NCE 62 17.6
Secondary school 127 36.1
Primary school 23 6.5
No formal education 14 4.0
Fathers’ Occupation
Senior public servants, professional, managers &
similar grades 204 58.0
Intermediate grade public servant and senior
school teachers 35 9.9
Junior school teachers, drivers, artisan & similar
grades 55 15.6
Petty traders, laborers, messengers & similar grades 38 10.8
Unemployed 20 5.7
Mothers’ Occupation
Senior public servants, professional, managers &
similar grades 194 55.1
Intermediate grade public servant and senior
school teachers 38 10.8
Junior s