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The Effects of Socio-cultural Factors on Medical College Students' Self-Rated Health Status and Health-Promoting Lifestyles in Eritrea: A Cross-sectional Study

Received: 20 January 2021     Accepted: 28 January 2021     Published: 4 March 2021
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Abstract

Sub-optimal health status (SHS) and unhealthy lifestyle among college students have become a major focus for research on public health worldwide. Hence, this study was designed to assess the effects of socio-cultural factors on medical college students' self-rated health status (SRH) and health-promoting lifestyles (HPL) in Eritrea. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Orotta School of Medicine (OSM), using a self-administered questionnaire. Data was collected from all medical students who had fulfilled the inclusion criteria using Sub-Optimal Health Measurement Scale (SHMS V1.0) and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II) scale questionnaires. Independent samples t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Binary multivariate logistic regression were performed. Data analysis was undertaken using SPSS version 22. The overall SRH was significantly higher among college students with BMI of 25 to 29.9 (M=88.23, SD=6.28) as compared to <18.5 (p=0.027) and 18.5 to 24.9 (p=0.027). Moreover, physiological subscale of SRH was significantly related to gender (M males=88.96 Vs M females=85.41, p=0.001) and monthly stipend (M income=89.52 Vs M no-income=87.28, p=0.040). On the other hand, physical activity of HPL was found to vary by gender (M males=2.12 Vs M females=1.87, p=0.005) and alcohol consumption (M drinkers=2.22 Vs M non-drinkers=1.99, p=0.016). Nutrition differences of HPL were observed in BMI of 25 to 29.9 (M=2.40, p=0.028), internship students (M=2.15, p=0.027), and monthly income (M=2.11, p=0.029). The overall SRH was significantly correlated with the overall HPL (r=0.493, p<0.001). In addition, students who had high (≥good) HPL were more likely to rate themselves as healthier: AOR=4.97, 95% CI: 1.28-19.32 and AOR=3.73, 95% CI: 1.09-12.80. In all, the study adds to the evidence on the impact of socio-cultural influences’ on SRH (gender, BMI, stipend) and HPL (gender, alcohol, BMI, study year, stipend) of medical students.

Published in Journal of Health and Environmental Research (Volume 7, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.jher.20210701.17
Page(s) 30-38
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Socio-cultural Factors, Self-rated Health Status, Health-promoting Lifestyle, Medical Students, Eritrea

References
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    Isayas Afewerki Abraham, Zewdi Amanuel Dagnew, Eyasu Habte Tesfamariam, Ghirmay Ghebreigziabher Beraki, Oliver Okoth Achila, et al. (2021). The Effects of Socio-cultural Factors on Medical College Students' Self-Rated Health Status and Health-Promoting Lifestyles in Eritrea: A Cross-sectional Study. Journal of Health and Environmental Research, 7(1), 30-38. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20210701.17

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    ACS Style

    Isayas Afewerki Abraham; Zewdi Amanuel Dagnew; Eyasu Habte Tesfamariam; Ghirmay Ghebreigziabher Beraki; Oliver Okoth Achila, et al. The Effects of Socio-cultural Factors on Medical College Students' Self-Rated Health Status and Health-Promoting Lifestyles in Eritrea: A Cross-sectional Study. J. Health Environ. Res. 2021, 7(1), 30-38. doi: 10.11648/j.jher.20210701.17

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    AMA Style

    Isayas Afewerki Abraham, Zewdi Amanuel Dagnew, Eyasu Habte Tesfamariam, Ghirmay Ghebreigziabher Beraki, Oliver Okoth Achila, et al. The Effects of Socio-cultural Factors on Medical College Students' Self-Rated Health Status and Health-Promoting Lifestyles in Eritrea: A Cross-sectional Study. J Health Environ Res. 2021;7(1):30-38. doi: 10.11648/j.jher.20210701.17

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jher.20210701.17,
      author = {Isayas Afewerki Abraham and Zewdi Amanuel Dagnew and Eyasu Habte Tesfamariam and Ghirmay Ghebreigziabher Beraki and Oliver Okoth Achila and Yemane Fessehaye Berhe and Yingchun Dai},
      title = {The Effects of Socio-cultural Factors on Medical College Students' Self-Rated Health Status and Health-Promoting Lifestyles in Eritrea: A Cross-sectional Study},
      journal = {Journal of Health and Environmental Research},
      volume = {7},
      number = {1},
      pages = {30-38},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jher.20210701.17},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20210701.17},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jher.20210701.17},
      abstract = {Sub-optimal health status (SHS) and unhealthy lifestyle among college students have become a major focus for research on public health worldwide. Hence, this study was designed to assess the effects of socio-cultural factors on medical college students' self-rated health status (SRH) and health-promoting lifestyles (HPL) in Eritrea. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Orotta School of Medicine (OSM), using a self-administered questionnaire. Data was collected from all medical students who had fulfilled the inclusion criteria using Sub-Optimal Health Measurement Scale (SHMS V1.0) and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II) scale questionnaires. Independent samples t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Binary multivariate logistic regression were performed. Data analysis was undertaken using SPSS version 22. The overall SRH was significantly higher among college students with BMI of 25 to 29.9 (M=88.23, SD=6.28) as compared to p=0.027) and 18.5 to 24.9 (p=0.027). Moreover, physiological subscale of SRH was significantly related to gender (M males=88.96 Vs M females=85.41, p=0.001) and monthly stipend (M income=89.52 Vs M no-income=87.28, p=0.040). On the other hand, physical activity of HPL was found to vary by gender (M males=2.12 Vs M females=1.87, p=0.005) and alcohol consumption (M drinkers=2.22 Vs M non-drinkers=1.99, p=0.016). Nutrition differences of HPL were observed in BMI of 25 to 29.9 (M=2.40, p=0.028), internship students (M=2.15, p=0.027), and monthly income (M=2.11, p=0.029). The overall SRH was significantly correlated with the overall HPL (r=0.493, p<0.001). In addition, students who had high (≥good) HPL were more likely to rate themselves as healthier: AOR=4.97, 95% CI: 1.28-19.32 and AOR=3.73, 95% CI: 1.09-12.80. In all, the study adds to the evidence on the impact of socio-cultural influences’ on SRH (gender, BMI, stipend) and HPL (gender, alcohol, BMI, study year, stipend) of medical students.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - The Effects of Socio-cultural Factors on Medical College Students' Self-Rated Health Status and Health-Promoting Lifestyles in Eritrea: A Cross-sectional Study
    AU  - Isayas Afewerki Abraham
    AU  - Zewdi Amanuel Dagnew
    AU  - Eyasu Habte Tesfamariam
    AU  - Ghirmay Ghebreigziabher Beraki
    AU  - Oliver Okoth Achila
    AU  - Yemane Fessehaye Berhe
    AU  - Yingchun Dai
    Y1  - 2021/03/04
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20210701.17
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jher.20210701.17
    T2  - Journal of Health and Environmental Research
    JF  - Journal of Health and Environmental Research
    JO  - Journal of Health and Environmental Research
    SP  - 30
    EP  - 38
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2472-3592
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20210701.17
    AB  - Sub-optimal health status (SHS) and unhealthy lifestyle among college students have become a major focus for research on public health worldwide. Hence, this study was designed to assess the effects of socio-cultural factors on medical college students' self-rated health status (SRH) and health-promoting lifestyles (HPL) in Eritrea. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Orotta School of Medicine (OSM), using a self-administered questionnaire. Data was collected from all medical students who had fulfilled the inclusion criteria using Sub-Optimal Health Measurement Scale (SHMS V1.0) and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II) scale questionnaires. Independent samples t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Binary multivariate logistic regression were performed. Data analysis was undertaken using SPSS version 22. The overall SRH was significantly higher among college students with BMI of 25 to 29.9 (M=88.23, SD=6.28) as compared to p=0.027) and 18.5 to 24.9 (p=0.027). Moreover, physiological subscale of SRH was significantly related to gender (M males=88.96 Vs M females=85.41, p=0.001) and monthly stipend (M income=89.52 Vs M no-income=87.28, p=0.040). On the other hand, physical activity of HPL was found to vary by gender (M males=2.12 Vs M females=1.87, p=0.005) and alcohol consumption (M drinkers=2.22 Vs M non-drinkers=1.99, p=0.016). Nutrition differences of HPL were observed in BMI of 25 to 29.9 (M=2.40, p=0.028), internship students (M=2.15, p=0.027), and monthly income (M=2.11, p=0.029). The overall SRH was significantly correlated with the overall HPL (r=0.493, p<0.001). In addition, students who had high (≥good) HPL were more likely to rate themselves as healthier: AOR=4.97, 95% CI: 1.28-19.32 and AOR=3.73, 95% CI: 1.09-12.80. In all, the study adds to the evidence on the impact of socio-cultural influences’ on SRH (gender, BMI, stipend) and HPL (gender, alcohol, BMI, study year, stipend) of medical students.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Community Medicine and Primary Health Care, Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • Department of Nursing, Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • Department of Statistics, Eritrean Institute of Technology, Mai-Nefhi, Eritrea

  • Department of Nursing, Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • Department of Allied Health, Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • Department of Nursing, Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China

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