DIABETES AND LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION AWARENESS AMONG NIGERIANS

 

Tolulope Kayode-Adedeji¹ Olusola Oyero² and Stella Aririguzoh³

¹Ms. Covenant University, Nigeria. tolulope.kayode-adedeji@covenantuniversity.edu.ng

²Associate Prof. Dr, Covenant University, Nigeria. olusola.oyero@covenantuniversity.edu.ng,

³Dr., Covenant University, Nigeria.  stella.aririgzoh@covenantuniversity.edu.ng

 

 

Abstract

Health they say is wealth. This statement is responsible for the importance of well-being to the individual in question and the development of a society at large. Therefore, health communication is becoming an area all over the world that cannot be neglected. The numerous problems related to health issues have been fully identified mostly with developing countries ranging from the continent of Asia, and Sub-Sahara Africa. World Bank group affirms that heart disease, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory conditions and other non-communicable diseases increasingly threaten the health and economic security of many low-and middle-income countries. According to Africa Development Bank, this is creating a double disease burden which Africa health systems are ill equipped to handle. In Nigeria, the figure may likely rise by almost 1.0% in the next 10 years considering the nonchalant attitude of Nigerian generally to health (Osain, 2011). The High rate of diabetes that exists in Nigeria will also raise the rate of obesity in those affected. This study examined the awareness trend of diabetes and its associated lifestyle against the backdrop of increase in the rate of the disease. The rate of increase in diabetes in Africa is predicted to witness a rise from 10m to 20m by 2015. Using survey method, 50 respondents were interrogated. The study reveals that media information are not sufficient in few cases and are not available in most cases on diabetes and has no relationship with a healthy lifestyle. Also, respondents believe bad diet lifestyle is not a determinant for diabetes which is hereditary. Aside promoting communication campaign through edutainment programmes on the mass media, this study suggest other ways of communicating with the public to provide the knowledge needed in order to reduce the outbreak of diabetes in Nigeria.

 

Keywords: Diabetes, lifestyle, Well-being, Health, and Nutrition