| dc.description | A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Public Health (Health Promotion and Education) of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | Sleep has been found to be of the least priority of most individuals especially students.
This may not be unconnected with the fact that, they feel they must always meet up
with deadlines in form of school assignments and examinations which necessitate the
use of substance to delay sleep.
A descriptive survey design combining both qualitative and quantitative research
strategies was used to find the relationship between substance use and its effects on
sleep and academic performance of the students of The Polytechnic Ibadan. The
population comprised National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND)
undergraduate students of The Polytechnic Ibadan in Oyo State, South-West Nigeria.
295 participants were randomly selected from five faculties in the polytechnic for the
study.
The instruments used for collection of data were a self-designed questionnaire called
Substance Use and Sleep Questionnaire (SUSQ), an inventory for collection of
students’ results and supplemented by personal interviews where necessary. The data
were analysed by computer using a statistical software SPSS (Statistical Package for
Social Sciences). Results of data analysis were presented using frequency distribution
tables and bar graphs. The two hypotheses raised were tested at 0.5 level of
significance. The study determined that there was significant relationship between
substance use and academic performance and between sleep and academic
performance. In the study, it was also discovered that substance use and insufficient
sleep negatively affects students’ academic performance in The Polytechnic Ibadan.
The respondents were assessed on socio-demography, the common substance used as
study aid on campus, the perceived effect of substance use on sleep, the perceived
effects of sleep on academic performance and the causes for substance use on sleep on
campus. The study revealed that more than half of the respondents use one substance
or the other to aid study. Of those surveyed 82.0% used coffee, 51.5% used energy
drink, 39.3% used paracetamol + caffeine, 29.9% used alcohol, 23.4% used coffee +
cigarette, 51.9% used tea. Also 86.8% were using stimulants to study longer, 76.8% to
stay awake, 93.9% to study better, and 37.6% to improve memory, 49.8% to help
concentration, 87.5% to help study, and 52% to increase alertness. The study also
found out that 74% respondents were of the view that good academic performance
depend on the length of hours spent without sleep to study. The study therefore
recommends that public awareness of the significance of sufficient sleep and the
danger of effortful control should be increased. Primary, secondary and tertiary
methods of prevention of substance use to alter sleep or anybody adjustment should be
proper communicated to the students. Also school guidance and counseling units and
health care provider may need to become more sensitized to the potential serious
ramification of substance use on sleep. Pre-enrolment messages for first year students
and restriction of the sale of stimulants on campus were also recommended. It is
expected that this study will lead to a better understanding to the major contributors to
student’s academic performance. | en_US |
