Meanings of Health and Disease and their Implication on Health Behaviours among Preadolescents and Guardians in Nairobi City County, Kenya
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2025-10
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The rising global prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) presents a critical public health challenge, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Kenya. Understanding lay conceptualizations of health and disease, especially among preadolescents and their guardians, is crucial for addressing NCD determinants, yet remains underexplored. This study, therefore, conducted a secondary qualitative analysis of existing data from the Kenya-Finland Education and Research Alliance (KENFIN-EDURA) project, originally conducted in two sub-counties of Nairobi. The study aimed: (1) to identify factors determining preadolescents' and guardians' meanings of health and disease; (2) to establish their meanings of obesity and NCDs; and (3) to explain the implications of these meanings on health behaviours. Guided by William Cockerham's Health Lifestyle Theory and the Health Belief Model, the research employed thematic analysis on eight in-depth interviews (IDI) and six focus group discussions (FGD) transcripts. Data saturation informed transcript selection, and ethical considerations for secondary analysis were strictly observed. Findings revealed that health and disease meanings are profoundly shaped by complex socio-cultural (e.g., family environment, maternal influence), economic (socioeconomic status, parental education), and contextual (e.g., obesogenic environments, parental work) factors. Participants largely conceptualized obesity and NCDs as direct outcomes of unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, recognizing links to chronic illnesses. However, a significant finding was the low perceived vulnerability to NCDs among adolescents, who often attributed these conditions to old age, highlighting a critical barrier to behaviour change from a Health Belief Model perspective. Despite this, preadolescents demonstrated a foundational understanding of health-protective behaviours, indicating their potential as change agents. The study concludes that while basic knowledge of health and NCDs exists, effective prevention requires moving beyond simple education. Public health strategies must address the social construction of health meanings, prioritize fostering positive parental healthy-eating attitudes and behaviours due to the family's central role in health socialization, and leverage the potential of preadolescents themselves. This research offers nuanced, context-specific insights into lay health conceptualizations in urban LMIC settings, informing more effective and culturally sensitive NCD prevention programs.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts in Sociology in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences of Kenyatta University, October 2025.
Supervisors
1. Dr. George Evans Owino
2. Dr. Sarah Fedha Barasa