INTERNET ABUSE AND AWARENESS OF ITS HEALTH IMPLICATIONS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SOUTHEAST NIGERIA

Emmanuel I. Umegbolu*

ABSTRACT

Background: In 2015, the number of Internet users worldwide reached 3.1billion. Non-prudent use of the Internet has been found to be associated with some negative health effects. Aim: The study aimed to determine the level of awareness of the negative health implications of Internet abuse among secondary school students in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State. Materials and method: The secondary schools were selected through simple random sampling. A questionnaire titled Internet abuse and awareness of its health implications among secondary school students in Southeast Nigeria, an adaptation of the Young’s Internet Addiction Test, administered to 400 students selected through accidental sampling, was used to collect the data which were analysed as proportions and t-tests using MaxStat statistical software version 3.60. P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results: 88% of the students used mobile phones to access the Internet mainly for studies (68%) and entertainment (35%). There were no significant differences between male and female (P=0.17), and rural and urban students (P=0.16) in the time spent on the Internet. 19% used the Internet excessively. Awareness of the health implications of Internet abuse was 74%, and Internet addiction 1.75%. Conclusion: 19% used the Internet excessively, awareness of the health implications of Internet abuse was 74%, and the prevalence of Internet addiction 1.75%. This level of awareness needs to be sustained and the students discouraged from excessive use of the Internet to prevent its negative health implications.

Keywords: Internet, abuse, awareness, health implications, Southeast, Nigeria.