The role of health determinants in shaping youths’ health: a case study of Vhembe district, Limpopo Province

The health of youth is shaped by a variety of factors, known as health determinants. The determinants of health are the various factors that influence a person’s overall health status. These determinants can be divided into four categories: individual, social, economic, and environmental determinants. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of health determinants in shaping the health of youth in the Vhembe district of Limpopo Province. The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive design embedded within the quantitative research approach. The study population was Itsani village, which comprised youth aged 15-34. The letter of permission to conduct the study was self-delivered to the Royal Council and the local Chief of the study village. An ethical clearance certificate was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the University of Venda, and the code of ethics was followed to protect the rights of the participants. Informed consent, voluntary participation, confidentiality, and protection from harm were applied. The researcher gained entrance by setting an appointment with the chief right-hand man, youth were mobilised during community gatherings, civic meetings, and at the sports field. The sample size was 372 and 10% of the sample size was used for pre-testing. The pre-testing was conducted using a questionnaire. 37 youth were sampled using a simple random sampling method from the same village to evaluate the feasibility of the instrument and determine if questions needed to be amended. Reliability was tested using the test-retest method and validity was observed. Recommendations and conclusions were based on the anticipated findings of the study. Findings showed that youth are knowledgeable about health determinants. However, some are not sufficiently knowledgeable about them. Most of the youth have a positive attitude and recognise the value of health determinants. The majority of the youth agreed that they drink alcohol and agreed that economic factors affect their physical and mental well-being. (33.4%) of the respondents agreed with the statement “Behaviour and lifestyle choices, the study found that things such as diet, exercise, and substance abuse, play a role in determining the health of youths. The study concluded that amongst the youth, there are factors that influence youth health that were assessed, such as health access, socio-environmental factors and financial status. The Department of Basic Education must address the immediate impacts of the pandemic and build resilience. Social development emphasises the importance of inclusive, sustainable practices that align with the Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring no one is left behind. Parents and teachers must create a supportive and nurturing environment both at home and in school to foster resilience in young people. Engaging in open communication, providing access to resources for physical and mental health, and encouraging healthy lifestyle choices are key strategies. Additionally, educators can integrate social determinants of health into the curriculum, helping students understand the broader societal influences on their well-being. Youth must engage in educational programs that increase awareness of these factors and how health determinants impact their health. They must advocate for policies that address income inequality, access to quality education, and fair employment practices. They must participate in community-based programs that focus on improving social and economic conditions. Consequently, I recommend that future researchers define clear objectives and employ robust methodologies, thereby contributing to the body of knowledge and informing practice. They should examine the phenomenon from a qualitative standpoint to add to the knowledge base in depth. I recommend that they focus on infectious disease prevention and control, climate change and environmental health, mental health and well-being, global health policy and implementation science. These recommendations collectively aim to support the interconnected domains of health, education, social development, parenting, teaching, and research, ultimately contributing to the well-being and advancement of society.

Author dc:creator

• Ramanyimi, Livhuwani Lillian

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Mulondo, S. A.
• Tshivhase, S. E.

• Determinants
• Socio-environmental
• Health
• Role
• Youths
• UCTD

Statement dc:rights

• University of Venda

Language dc:language.iso

en

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://univendspace.univen.ac.za/handle/11602/3080

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:univendspace.univen.ac.za:11602/3080