INTRODUCTION:

Background of the study:

Over the past few years there has been an attempt to popularize a new concept of health, no longer as a goal to be reached but as a “necessary good for social, economic and personal development…” where “people themselves are the greatest resource” (The Ottawa Charter, 1986). The promotion of good health is carried out in the spheres of both individual and community life. In the former case through the measures aimed to modify individual behaviors, for example by encouraging people to adopt healthier lifestyles. In the latter case by improving the environment, and working and living conditions that have an effect on health. The Healthy Youth project has been developed by the National Institute of Health (ISS) and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. It has involved young workers from both the public and private sectors of a select number of Italian cities. The aim is to promote a culture based on healthy lifestyles which can help young workers to appreciate the pleasures of life while safeguarding their own health.¹

Unhealthy lifestyles (poor diet, excessive drinking, smoking, lack of exercise) have negative repercussions not only on the health of the individuals but on their work environment as well, resulting in a steadily increasing financial burden which weighs heavily on the national welfare system.²

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

Attention to healthy habits in adolescence has heightened as obesity has become a serious public health problem affecting nearly 25 percent of all North American children. Concern over adolescent obesity has mounted due to its rapid increase in prevalence, its persistence into adulthood, and its associated health consequences, including morbidity and mortality⁴

For example, there has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of Type II diabetes (“adult-onset”) in adolescents in parallel with the national increase in prevalence of obesity. Adolescent obesity is a major antecedent of adult obesity, CHD risk, and increased morbidity and mortality and even increased risk of breast cancer. Moreover, the consequences of adolescent obesity extend beyond its health effects to impacts on SES status and reduced chances for marriage.⁵

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

“A study to assess the Knowledge and self-rated practice of Youth regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style in selected PU colleges at Bangalore.”

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY:

· To assess the level of knowledge regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style among youths in selected PU colleges at Bangalore.

· To assess self-rated practice regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style among youths in selected PU colleges at Bangalore.

· To find out the correlation between knowledge and self-rated practice regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style among youths in selected PU colleges at Bangalore.

· To find out the association between knowledge levels regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style with selected demographic variable.

· To find out the association between self-rated practice regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style with selected demographic variable.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Research Design:

In our research a Descriptive survey research design is used.

Sample:

In this study, the sample comprised of 60 PU college students.

Sampling techniques:

In our research we use the purposive sampling technique.

Samples selection criteria:

a) Inclusive criteria:

1. The youths aged between 15-20 years

2. Who have been studying in the selected PU colleges at Bangalore.

3. Both male and female.

4. Who are present during data collection.

b) Exclusive criteria:

1) The study excludes:

1. Who are not available at the time of data collection.

2. Who are not willing to participate in the study.

3. Who are less than 15 years of age and more than 20 years of age

Sample Size:

The sample size of present study was 60 staff nurses.

Description of the tool:

The final tool designed for the study consisted of three sections.

Section: I Baseline proforma:

It consists of 7 items for obtaining information on gender, religion, residence, family monthly income, Type of family, socio economic status, source of information regarding health practices. The investigator will give the questionnaire, and respondents are requested to put mark (ü) against the appropriate answer in the space provided.

Section: II Structured knowledge questionnaire to assess the knowledge of youth regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style:

The structured knowledge questionnaire has 30 structured multiple-choice questions. The respondents are instructed to place a tick mark (ü) against the options given. For every correct answer, one score is allotted and for every wrong answer is score was allotted. The knowledge questionnaire is graded into Inadequate (score 0 -50%), poor (score 21-40%), Moderate (score 51-74%), Adequate (score 75-100%)

Section III: Structured self- rating scale to assess the self-rated practice regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style of Youth:

This tool had 28 items. The scale was in the form of positive statements. This tool had five-point scale with responses as Not at all, a little, somewhat, mostly, completely. The respondents were instructed to place a tick mark (ü) against the responses given. The scoring for response Not at all, a little, somewhat, mostly, completely were given 0,1,2,3 and 4 respectively. The self -report rating scale will be graded into poor practice (score 0-25 %), satisfactory practice (score 26-50%), good practice (51-75%) and very good practice (76-100%) depending upon the total score secured by each respondent on the selected section.

Data Collection Process:

Formal written permission was obtained from concerned authorities to conduct the research study. The sample was selected based on sampling criteria using purposive sampling 60 subjects were selected for the study. The purposes of the study, method of data collection, duration were explained to the subjects in the language they understood. Written consent was obtained and confidentiality was assured. The structured knowledge and self-rated scale were administered to the subjects. The data was collected from 19^th November to 16^thof December 2013. After data collection, the data was compiled and prepared for analysis.

PLAN FOR DATA ANALYSIS:

Analysis of data was planned on the basis of objectives and hypothesis.

Data analysis is the systematic organization and synthesis of the research data and the testing of research hypothesis using the data. ⁶⁵The data obtained was entered into a master sheet and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics based on the objectives and hypotheses of the study. The data will be presented in figures and tables.

ORGANISATION AND PRESENTATION OF DATA:

The data will be analyzed and presented under the following headings:

Section I: Description of baseline characteristics will be analysed by using frequency and percentage.

Section II: Assessment of the level of knowledge regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style among youths will be analysed using mean, standard deviation, and mean score percentage.

Section III: Assessment of self-rated practice regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style among youths will be analysed by using mean, standard deviation and mean score percentage.

Section IV: Relationship between level of knowledge and self-rated practice regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style among youths will be analysed by using Karl-Pearson's Correlation Coefficient.

Section V: Association between knowledge level score and selected baseline variables will be analysed by using Chi- square test.

Section VI: Association between self-rated practice score and selected baseline variables will be analysed by using Chi-square test

RESULTS:

Section I: Frequency and Percentage distribution of demographic data

Table–1: Frequency and percentage distribution of youths according to demographic variables. n=60

Sl. No	Demographic variables	No	%


1	Gender
	a) male	32	53
	b) Female	28	47
2	Religion
	a) Hindu	29	48
	b) Muslim	12	20
	c) Christian	19	32
3	Residence
	a) Urban	44	73
	b) Rural	16	27
4	Family monthly income
	a) Less than 5000	10	17
	b) 5001-10000	25	42
	c) 10001-20000	18	30
	d) 20001 and above	7	12
5	Types of family
	a) Nuclear	14	23
	b) Joint	42	70
	c) Extended	4	6.7
6	Socio-economic Status
	a) High class	28	47
	b) Middle class	17	28
	c) Low class	15	25
7	source of information regarding health practices
	a) Tv/Radio	16	27
	b) Relative/ friends	12	20
	c) Newspaper/ magazine	25	42
	d)No information	7	12

Fig 3: Percentage distribution of youths according to Gender

As is shown in the figure, 53.3% of the subjects were males and the remaining 46.7% of them were females.

Fig 4: Percentage distribution of youths according to religion

The above graph depicts percentage of subjects in accordance with their religion. The highest percentage (48.3%) of the subjects was Hindus. Further, 31.7% belonged to Christianity and the remaining were Muslims.

Fig 5: Percentage distribution of youths according to Residence

Not surprisingly around one third of the subjects were residing in urban area. Only 26.7% of the subjects were living in rural areas.

Fig 6: Percentage distribution of youths according their monthly income.

The graph portrays percentage distribution of youths according their monthly income. Obviously, 16.7% of the subjects belonged to a family with a monthly income less than Rs. 5000, 30% belonged to family with income between Rs.10000 and Rs.20000, and 11.7% belonged to a family with monthly income more than Rs.20000. the remaining 41.6% of the subjects were earning more than Rs.5000 but less than Rs.10000.

Fig 7: Percentage distribution of youths according to Types of family

Obviously, 70% of the subjects belonged to nuclear family, and 23.3% belonged to joint family. Rest of the study subjects belonged to extended type of family.

Fig 8: Percentage distribution of youths according to Socio-economic status

As far as the socio-economic status of the subjects concerned, only a quarter of the total number of subjects belonged to poor economic conditions. 46.7% belonged to high class family whereas 28.3% belonged to middle class family

Fig 9: Percentage distribution of youths according to Source of information regarding health practices.

As is shown in the graph, the highest percentage (41.6%) of the subjects got at least some sort of information through newspaper or magazines. TV and radio also played an important role to disseminate information regarding the same. 26.7% of the subjects received information through TV/ radio. Further, one in five inculcated by their friends or relatives. On the other side, 11.7% of the subjects were not holding any information regarding the same during the study.

Section II: Assessment of the level of knowledge regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style among youths will be analysed using mean, standard deviation, and mean score percentage.

Table 4: To assess the existing knowledge regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style among youth n=6

Level of knowledge	Score	No of respondent
Level of knowledge	Score	No	%
Adequate	75-100%	0	0
Moderate	51-74%	44	73
Inadequate	50% and below	16	27

Fig10: Percentage distribution of youth by their Level of knowledge

Surprisingly or not, no subjects found with adequate knowledge, However, 73.3% of them held moderate level of knowledge and remaining 26.7% with inadequate knowledge.

Table 5: Mean, SD and Mean% of the existing knowledge youth regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style n=60

Domain	Max statement	Max Score	Range	Mean	SD	Mean %
Health practice	30	30	6--22	16	4.9	54

Fig11: Percentage distribution of Mean, SD and Mean% of the level of knowledge

As the above graph shows, mean, SD and mean% of knowledge scores were calculated as 16.7, 4.1 and 53.2% accordingly.

Section III: Assessment of self-rated practice regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style among youths will be analysed by using mean, standard deviation and mean score percentage.

Table 2: To assess the self-rated practice regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style of youth. n=60

Self-reported practice score	Score in percentage	Interpretation	Percentage
0-28	0-25%	Poor practice	33
29-56	26-50%	Satisfactory practice	47
57-84	51-75%	Good practice	20
85-112	76-100%	Very good practice	0

Figure 12: Percentage distribution of subjects according to grading of self-rated practice score.

As per the graph, one in three had poor health practices and 46.6% of the subjects had just satisfactory health practices. More significantly, only 20% of the subjects held good health practice.

Table 3: Mean, SD and Mean% of the self-rated practice regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style among youth. n=60

Domain	Max statement	Max Score	Range	Mean	SD	Mean %
Healthy life style	28	112	18--71	40	16	36

Fig13: Percentage distribution of Mean, SD and Mean% of self-rated healthy life style

The mean, SD, and mean% of the subjects’ life-style is as follows. It was found as 40.3, 15.7 and 36% respectively before treatment.

Section IV: Relationship between level of knowledge regarding health practice and self-rated practice regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style among youths will be analysed by using Karl-Pearson's Correlation Coefficient.

Table 6: Findings related to Co-relation between knowledge and self-rated practice regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style among youths

Areas	Min	Max	Mean	SD	Co-relation
knowledge	6	22	16	4.9	0.34 S*
healthy life style	18	71	40	16	0.34 S*

S*=Significant (P<0.05) r < +

The data presented in Table 6 shows that the Karl Pearson Correlation (r = 0.34) between knowledge and self-rated practice scores is significant at 0.05 level. Hence the null hypothesis was rejected, and it is inferred that there is a weak positive correlation between knowledge and self-rated practice regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style.

Section V: Association between knowledge level score and selected baseline variables will be analysed by using Chi- square test.

Table 8: Find out the association between knowledge score and demographic variables. n=60

Sl No	Demographic variables	No	%	Level of knowledge				Chi-square
				Inadequate		Moderate
				No	%	No	%
1	Gender
	a) male	32	53	8	50	24	55	0.1
	b) Female	28	47	8	50	20	45	0.1
2	Religion
	a) Hindu	29	48	3	19	26	59	8.3 S*
	b) Muslim	12	20	6	38	6	14
	c) Christian	19	32	7	44	12	27
3	Residence
	a) Urban	44	73	15	94	29	66	4.7 S*
	b) Rural	16	27	1	6.3	15	34	4.7 S*
4	Family monthly income
	a) Less than 5000	10	17	3	19	7	16	0.3
	b)5001-10000	25	42	7	44	18	41
	c)10001-20000	18	30	4	25	14	32
	d)20001 and above	7	12	2	13	5	11
5	Types of family
	a) Nuclear	14	23	5	31	9	20	2
	b) Joint	42	70	11	69	31	70
	c) Extended	4	6.7	0	0	4	9.1
6	Socio-economic Status
	a) High class	28	47	1	6.3	27	61	14 S*
	b) Middle class	17	28	8	50	9	20
	c) Low class	15	25	7	44	8	18
7	source of information regarding health practice
	a) Tv/Radio	16	27	4	25	12	27	3.4
	b) Relative/ friends	12	20	1	6.3	11	25
	c) Newspaper/ magazine	25	42	8	50	17	39
	d)No information	7	12	3	19	4	9.1

*S- Significant at P<0.05 level

Section VI: Association between self-rated scale score and selected baseline variables will be analysed by using Chi-square test

Table 7: Find out the association between self-rated practice score and demographic variables. n=60

Sl No	Demographic variables	No	%	Level of practice						Chi-square
				Poor		Satisfactory		Good
				No	%	No	%	No	%
1	Gender									0.3
	a) male	32	53	11	55	14	50	7	58
	b) Female	28	47	9	45	14	50	5	42
2	Religion
	a) Hindu	29	48	7	35	16	57	6	50	8 S*
	b) Muslim	12	20	8	40	2	7.1	2	17
	c) Christian	19	32	5	25	10	36	4	33
3	Residence
	a) Urban	44	73	18	90	18	64	8	67	4.3
	b) Rural	16	27	2	10	10	36	4	33	4.3
4	Family monthly income
	a) Less than 5000	10	17	4	20	5	18	1	8.3	6.2
	b) 5001-10000	25	42	10	50	12	43	3	25
	c) 10001-20000	18	30	4	20	7	25	7	58
	d) 20001 and above	7	12	2	10	4	14	1	8.3
5	Types of family
	a) Nuclear	14	23	4	20	8	29	2	17	2.9
	b) Joint	42	70	15	75	17	61	10	83
	c) Extended	4	6.7	1	5	3	11	0	0
6	Socio-economic Status
	a) High class	28	47	4	20	18	64	6	50	12 S*
	b) Middle class	17	28	9	45	5	18	3	25
	c) Low class	15	25	7	35	5	18	3	25
7	source of information regarding health practice
	a) Tv/Radio	16	27	6	30	6	21	4	33	22 S*
	b) Relative/ friends	12	20	3	15	8	29	1	8.3
	c) Newspaper/ magazine	25	42	9	45	13	46	3	25
	d)No information	7	12	2	10	1	3.6	4	33

*S- Significant at P<0.05 level

The above table portrays the association between self-rated practice and demographic variables. It was found that demographic variables such as religion, socio-economic status and source of information were significantly associated with health practices to establish a healthy life style, whereas variables such as gender, place of residence, monthly income and type of family did not found significantly associated with self-rated practice.

DISCUSSION:

Assessment of the level of knowledge regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style among youths:

The study revealed that no subjects found with adequate knowledge before treatment. However, 73.3% of them held moderate level of knowledge and remaining 26.7% with inadequate knowledge.

A cross-sectional study conducted on Pakistan on knowledge and practices regarding healthy lifestyle it included 350 students between ages 17-24 years from 6 private universities of Karachi — three medical and three non-medical Institutions. A self-reported questionnaire was employed to assess attitude and barriers to healthy practices among the simple random selection of students, on a 10-point scale, the average knowledge score of students on general and clinical nutritional knowledge was 5.7±1.51 and 4.4±1.77, respectively and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.01). Conversely the diet and lifestyle score (85- point scale) among medical (41.3) and non medical students (40.8) was not significant (p =0.646). There was no difference between the perception of medical and non-medical students regarding 'work-related stress' in their life. 'Lack of time' was cited as the most important reason for skipping meals and as a barrier to exercising regularly among both groups.

Assessment of self-rated practice regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style among youths:

The study highlighted that one in three had poor health practices and 46.6% of the subjects had just satisfactory health practices. More significantly, only 20% of the subjects held good health practice and none of them holding very good practice practice.

A cross sectional study was conducted over six months from November 2011 until May 2012 among the students from the Management and Science University in Malaysia, the total number of 1100 students participated with a mean age of 22.1±2.21 (SD) years. The majority were 22 years or younger (56.3%), female (54%), Malay (61.5%), single (92.3%), with family monthly income ≥5000 Ringgit Malaysia (41.2%). Regarding lifestyle, about were 31.6% smokers, 75.6% never drank alcohol and 53.7% never exercised. Multivariate analysis showed that age, sex, race, parent marital status, participant marital status, type of faculty, living status, smoking status, exercise, residency, brushing teeth, fiber intake and avoid fatty food significantly influenced the practice of drinking alcohol among university students

CONCLUSION:

It is inferred that there is a weak positive correlation between knowledge and self-rated practice regarding health practices to establish a healthy life style. Association between knowledge and demographic variables was found that demographic variables such as religion, residence and socio-economic status were significantly associated with knowledge, whereas variables such as gender, type of family, monthly income and source of information did not found significantly and demographic variables such as religion, socio-economic status and source of information were significantly associated with health practices to establish a healthy life style, whereas variables such as gender, place of residence, monthly income and type of family did not found significantly associated with self-rated practice.

REFERENCE:

1) https://osha.europa.eu/data/case-studies/healthy-youth-a-project-to-promote-safe-and-healthy-lifestyles-for-young-workers/Healthy-Youth-Project-to-promote-safe-and-healthy.pdf

2) http://www.preventionworksct.org/docs/mentoring/TESTGPP_Healthy_convo__active_Youth.pdf

3) Andrade, M.M.M., A.A. Benedito-Silva, E.E. Domenice, I.J. Arnhold, and L. Menna-Barreto. 1993. “Sleep Characteristics of Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study.” Journal of Adolescent Health 14:401-406.

4) Must A, Jacques PF, Dallal GE, Bajema CJ, Dietz WH. 1992. “Long-term morbidity and mortality of overweight adolescents: a follow-up of the Harvard Growth Study of 1922 to 1935.” New England Journal of Medicine 327:1350-55.

5) Bordo, Susan. 1999. The Male Body: A New Look at Men in Public and in Private. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.

Received on 23.11.2019 Modified on 12.12.2019

Int. J. of Advances in Nur. Management. 2020; 8(1):45-52.

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2652.2020.00012.8