Abstract

Existing health programmes in Nigeria for young people mostly target children below 5 years. Both quantitative and qualitative techniques were used to assess perspectives of male and female adolescents on common diseases they experience and medicines used for treatment during a three month study in a boarding secondary school in Owerri, Imo State of Nigeria. Malaria was named and ranked as the most severe and frequently experienced disease followed by diarrhea. High body temperature, headache and loss of appetite are some of the symptoms recognized during illness. Pharmaceuticals including paracetamol, fansidar, flagyl, pro-cold and ampicillin were used for treatment of illnesses. These are administered by the school nurse or by self medication and were obtained mainly from drug shops. The healthcare needs and priorities of adolescents are infectious diseases which they could readily identify. This underscores the need and relevance of implementing school based health programmes in secondary schools in Nigeria.

Key words: Perspectives, medicines, diseases, healthcare, adolescents.