ANTITHETICAL HEALTH PRACTICES: THE THEORIES OF PLANNED BEHAVIOUR AND REASONED ACTION

Abstract

This paper intends to look into the reason why people engage in unhealthy behaviours. The theory of reasoned action and planned behaviour was x-rayed ass propounded by Fishbein and Ajzein (1975) as explanation for this phenomenon. Generalized unhealthy behaviours and practices where discussed and was narrowed down to why people dispose their solid waste indiscriminately. Health education may produce changes in knowledge and understanding in way of thinking and also facilitate the acquisition of skills that may affect changes in behaviour and lifestyle (Owei, 2005). The paper attempts to explain these anomalous behaviours using the
theory of reasoned action. The need for Health Education was emphasized and the role of the health educator in goal attainment was stressed. The role of government in restricting unhealthy behaviour emphasised by soliciting government to build a healthy policy, create supportive environment strengthen community mobilization and improve distribution of health services for effectiveness was emphasised.