PERCEIVED HEALTH CONCERNS AND CARE SEEKING BEHAVIOUR OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE CROSS RIVER STATE

Abstract

This study of the secondary school students' perceived health concerns and their care seeking behavior was conducted in the Cross River State over a six-months period. Interviews were conducted among 600 secondary school youths aged 13 to 18 years, randomly selected from 10 secondary schools in Uyo Local Government area. The findings of the study indicated that although the students presented with numerous perceived health problems such as malaria related problems, abdominal pains, eye problems, there were generally no health facilities in their schools with which these problems might be solved. The students therefore sought health care from the available health institutions outside the schools. These institutions include hospitals and private clinics, chemist/patent medicine stores, traditional healers and spiritual healing homes. Most respondents considered finance as the most important factor when seeking health care. Thus, the following recommendations were made by the researcher: provision of adequately equipped first aid boxes for all secondary schools; compulsory health education courses for all secondary school students; an urgent review of the present health education curriculum to reflect the needs of the secondary school students; provision of health counselling services for the secondary school students in order to assist in the solution of their health problems; environmental modification to protect the students from mosquito bites and epidemics of communicable diseases; provision of a school dispensary with trained personnel in every school to cater for the students health needs; health education of the parents and teachers. It is hoped that the findings of this study will be useful to those responsible for improving the delivery of health care services for students in the secondary school.