Written By: Adamolekun Patience Arinola (Mrs) | RN, RM, MSc Nursing (MCH), Adolescent and Youth Reproductive Health Care Provider

INTRODUCTION  

During the transition from child to adulthood, adolescents establish patterns of behaviour and make lifestyle choices that affect both their current and future health.

Who are the adolescents? The adolescents are young people between the ages of 10 and 19 years, they are often thought of as a healthy group of individuals between young adulthood, middle adulthood and late adulthood.

Adolescent is a critical stage of transition from childhood to adulthood. However, the physical and psychological changes that occur in an adolescent can start earlier during the “preteen” or tween years {ages 9-12).it can be a time of disorientation, discovery, independence and self-identity.

Serious health and safety issues such as motor vehicle crashes, violence, substance abuse, and risky sexual behaviours can adversely affect adolescent and young adults.

Some adolescents also struggle to adopt behaviours that could decrease their risk of developing chronic diseases in adulthood such as eating adequate nutritious diets, engaging in physical activity, and choosing not to experiments with tobacco or alcohol.

Environmental factors such as family, peer group, media schools, churches, mosques, community and society at large contribute to the adolescent healthy lifestyles and risky behaviours.

HIGHLIGHTS OF DISCUSSIONS ARE

1. Physical hygiene
2. Physical activities
3. Diet and nutrition
4. Avoid negative peer group influence
5. Prevention of infection
6. Regular dental and eye check-up
7. Regular and proper handwashing
8. Get busy with things of God and pray without ceasing
9. Sleep and rest

 Physical Hygiene

These are the cares directed at the body to improve appearance.

• Regular bath, at least twice in a day, morning and last thing before going to the bed at night. Wash your private parts separately, females should not wash with soap, antiseptic lotion, use only water to wash the private area don’t douche.
• Oral/dental hygiene, ensure you brush your teeth in and out, up and down, the tongue should be carefully scrubbed to get all the bacteria out, using mouth wash is also highly recommended.
• Flossing of the teeth is required to remove all trapped particles e.g. meat, fish, bones etc instead of using sharp objects which can easily brush the gum.

NOTE: THE FRESHNESS OF YOUR MOUTH IS THE AMBASSADOR OF YOUR WORDS

• Wash your face twice a day, especially during the dry season, but never use harsh soap, face cleansers are better than body gels or body scrubs because it will strip your skin of essential moisture and upset its natural pH balance, leaving your face irritated and dry.
• CARE OF THE HAIR: shampoo and condition hair as needed, but don’t apply hair relaxers use a good smelling hair product, it keeps hair nice and neat.
• CARE OF FINGER AND TOENAILS: ensure you clean and clip your fingernails and toenails whenever they start getting white ends, avoid long dirty nails and do not use your teeth in cutting your nails, get a good nail cutter or a new razor blade.
• PERINEAL CARE: change your underwear regularly, regular change of sanitary pads/pants during monthly menstrual periods.
• Good and adequate clothing keep a healthy beard and observe ethics to avoid nakedness
• Take off your shoes as soon as you get home so it can air out and dry out, always wear socks to absorb the sweat
• Avoidance of exposure to harsh weather.

Physical Activities

Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do to remain healthy, it helps to

• Control body weight
• Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing the blood pressure and reduce cholesterol level
• Reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes and other metabolic syndrome manifesting as a combination of too much fat around the waist, high blood pressure, high triglycerides or high blood sugar.
• Reduce the risk of some cancers especially endometrial and lung cancer e.g. colon or prostate cancers in males, and breast & cervical cancers in females.
• Improve your quality of life.
• Improve your ability to do daily activities and prevent falls
• Improve your mental health and prevents swinging, improve your thinking habit and judgment
• Reduce the risk of depression and help you to sleep better
• Increase your choice of living longer

Examples of physical activities are:

• Moderate-intensity aerobic activity e.g brisk walking
• Swimming/cyclist
• Skipping
• Running/football
• chorography

 Diet and nutrition

The individual nutritional need varies accordingly to body build, age and activity. Eating a balanced or adequate menu of foods, control fats, salt and sugar intake.

Eat an egg daily, regular intake of fruits, vegetables and grains are encouraged. Drink more of clean water than sweet drinks e.g coke, ice-cream or juice.

Diet can also be supplement with nutrient and vitamin e.g meat, fish, eggs, milk are very good for the adolescent but should be taken in moderation.

 Elimination: moderate intake of fibres, in the form of roughages fruits and vegetables, supplies the bulk that stimulates proper adequate elimination of solids as faecal matter. Water intake assist the kidney in getting rid of liquid wastes, hence it is advisable to always take a glass of portable clean water first thing in the morning, and ensure adequate hydration during the days

 NOTE:-Take very little water at night to avoid bed wetting or disturbed sleep

 Hand washing:-most infection, especially colds and gastroenteritis are caught when we put our unwashed hands which have germs into the mouth or eat with dirty fingernails or times when some other people put their unwashed/dirty hands into our own foods. Hands and wrists should be washed with clean tap water, using soap and brush for the fingernails after which the hands should be dried with tissue paper, towels or hot dryers/

Positive Body mechanics:-This is a positive way of making use of your body. The way you stand, walk or move affects your efficiency and the impression you create, good posture improves your health, saves your energy and prevents unnecessary muscle strains and a back disorder.

 Prevention of infection

• maintain good personal hygiene
• Eat an adequate diet
• Proper handwashing
• Clean the sewage system
• Environmental hygiene
• Mental hygiene
• Oral/dental hygiene
• Adequate clothing
• Cover your mouth while sneezing or coughing
• Avoid sleeping in an overcrowded room
• Use and flush the toilet after use
• Do not eat unripe or overripe fruits
• Cover your food regularly
• See the doctor as soon as you are feeling sick and

Sleep and rest: Rest is soothing to the body, most people need 7-8 hours of sleep per night, times after a day’s work or school hour rest is needed rather than sleep.try lying relaxed and letting your thought drift away from the daily activities.

 Avoid negative peer group: A saying goes thus ”evil communication corrupts good manners”, and another one says ”show me your friend and I will tell you who you are”, ”birds of the same feathers flocks together”.

People can easily identify and label you with the types of friends you keep, as children of God, you must be careful in choosing your friends.

Psalm1:1-blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, or sitteth in the seat of the scornful, let your delight be in the law of the lord and in his law should you meditate day and night/

 Pray without ceasing:-You need to know and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and saviour, if you must overcome the vile of the devil for you to succeed in life and fulfil destiny, you must separate yourself in prayers unto the Lord Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God.1 thessalonia5:17-pray without ceasing

 CONCLUSION

Adolescent is a transitional stage from childhood to adulthood, and if not properly managed it could lead to a permanent negative effect on the individual causing violence, aggression, addictions to tobacco and alcohol intake.

The adolescent hygiene should not be ignored or neglected, for a healthy adolescent is a healthy adult, and a healthy Christian adolescent is a healthy, vibrant, heavenly bound, spirit-filled, future mighty men and women of God

Prov.1:7-The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction

Prov 1. 33- But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil except you are in Christ alone, you cannot achieve success or fulfil your God-ordained destiny.