Assessment of Predisposing Factors to Female Students Susceptibility to Ill-Health in Higher Educational Institutions in Benue State, Nigeria

The study aimed to examine the predisposing factors to female students’ susceptibility to ill-health in higher educational institutions in Benue State. The study was essentially a descriptive survey research. A total of 180 female students from three higher institutions of learning responded to a self-developed 20 items questionnaire with a Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of .65. Results from the descriptive analysisshows that environmental factors 75.6%, genetic/physiological factors 72%, and lifestyle 80% plays important roles as predisposing factors that influences the female students’ susceptibility to ill-health. The endogenous factors contribution to female students’ susceptibility to ill-health include genetic traits 16.3%, menstruation 73.7%, and hormone activity 10.6%. The exogenous factors have overcrowding 58.8%, poor sanitary condition 86.3%, use of poor-quality water 32.6%, poor quality of food consumed 10.6%, unhealthy environment 56.8%, risky behaviours such as drinking alcohol, smoking, abortion contribute 55.8%, body exposure from indecent dressing 28%, and exposure to severe hot weather 7%. The findings indicate that the female students genetic/physiological constitution, unhealthy environment and lifestyle in these schools could influence their susceptibility to mental and physical health disorder or disease. Thus, it is important and necessary for the Federal and State government who owned these schools gives priority attention to ensure that adequate construction of more infrastructure for healthy accommodation and learning are provided. This can be achieved by putting in place strategic monetary policy measures to finance adequate construction of infrastructures and proper maintenance of the academic environment.