HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS (A CASE STUDY IN UNIVERSITY OF BENIN)

ABSTRACT

The study seek to examine the causes of health and wellbeing among undergraduate students in the University of Benin. The specific purposes are to ascertain the level of health and wellbeing, to expose the factors affecting wellbeing of students, to examine the prevalence of student health challenges and to examine how often students utilized health facilities, all in the University of Benin. A cross-sectional survey method was adopted. A sample of 100 respondents drawn from among the 600 undergraduate students population in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. The data was collected and analysed thematically using frequency counts, percentage, bar charts and pie chart. The result of the analysis revealed that the level of health and wellbeing of students in the University of Benin is not cheering. Factors such as discrimination, sexual harassment, financial difficulties, broken relationship and death of loved ones are the major factors affecting the wellbeing of students. Others like fear of examination 'carryovers' and 'spillovers', fraustration of students and isolation from family are the minimal factors. The study revealed that sixty percent (60%) of students are prone to illness while on campus and that the health facilities in the university is underutilized by students. The study concluded that in spite of this, the health challenges among students in the University of Benin is not alarming but the few students with health challenges should be specially cater for and the health facilities in the university should be modernized, properly equipped and publicized so that students can utilize it.