Attitude of UiTM students about their health lifestyles / Nurul Baiza Mohd Nurol Hadi

Research on health attitude and behaviour of Malaysian youths is lacking. This study was set out to investigate current health-related behaviour and health risk behaviour of youths studying in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam, Malaysia. Cross-sectional descriptive design and convenience survey methods were used. The sample consisted of 300 students between the ages of 17 and 28 years who completed the questionnaires. Health behaviours were assessed with a modification of the Adolescent Health Promotion (AHP) questionnaires and health risk behaviours were assessed with a modification of the Oban Youth Health and Lifestyle Survey. Thirty-one health behaviour and risk behaviour items were analyzed and classified into eight factors: smoking behaviour, drinking behaviour, drugs abuse, eating habits, physical activity, health responsibility behaviour, life appreciation and social support. It can be concluded that students' health lifestyles attitude can be improved. The eating habits, life appreciation, and health responsibility attitudes of both genders are not significantly different. However, female students have better social support than their opposite gender. Male students practise healthier behaviour than female students for physical activity dimension. Overall, students have low level of risk behaviours in terms of smoking (21.4%), alcohol consumption (4.0%), and drugs abuse (2.73%). Although the study sample has geographic limitations, future national studies with similar populations of youth in Malaysia will help government and non-government agencies to understand youths' stressors and needs which in tum affect their health-related behaviours. Intervention strategies are needed to encourage behaviours to keep this population healthy.