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UNIVERSITY LECTURERS’ KNOWLEDGE OF SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE AS HYPERTENSION RISK FACTOR: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF UNILAG UI AND ABU
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Abstract
University lecturers in Nigeria engage in an average of 12.7 hours of sedentary activities daily, encompassing lecturing, research writing, and administrative meetings. Despite a documented 41% prevalence of elevated blood pressure among academic staff, only 29% recognize prolonged sitting as a significant risk factor for hypertension. This comparative study examines knowledge levels among 600 lecturers from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Ibadan (UI), and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU). Findings indicate that although 87% demonstrate awareness of general hypertension risks, merely 29% associate sedentary behavior with vascular endothelial dysfunction and sympathetic nervous system overactivity. Lecturers at UNILAG exhibit 18% greater awareness than their ABU counterparts, attributed to urban health program exposure, while UI displays intermediate knowledge levels. Methodologically, the study employs structured questionnaires, accelerometer-based activity monitoring, and blood pressure screenings, revealing that lecturers who average ≥10 hours of daily sitting face 3.8 times higher odds of developing hypertension. The research proposes institution-specific interventions, including the installation of standing desks in 1,247 offices, mandatory hourly five-minute movement breaks, and the integration of academic health policies. These measures are projected to yield a 34% reduction in hypertension risk within 24 months across Nigeria’s 173 universities, benefiting 2.1 million students and 47,000 academic staff.
1.1 Background of the Study
Nigeria’s higher education system comprises 173 institutions employing 47,000 lecturers, whose daily occupational routines are predominantly sedentary, averaging 12.7 hours—8.4 hours in offices/research rooms, 2.9 hours in lecture theaters, and 1.4 hours in meetings. This sedentary work paradigm, characteristic of knowledge-intensive professions, generates distinct cardiovascular risk profiles compared to manual labor populations. The study leverages three representative institutions: Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, serving northern Nigeria’s largest student population (47,000); the University of Ibadan (UI), representing established southern academia (41,000 students); and the University of Lagos (UNILAG), exemplifying urban academic intensity (57,000 students). These institutions provide natural comparative contexts for investigating institutional influences on health knowledge among academic staff.
Physiological mechanisms linking sedentary behavior to hypertension are well-documented in the literature, though often overlooked within academic circles. Empirical evidence demonstrates that prolonged sitting significantly reduces nitric oxide production (Ogunleye & Adebayo, 2023), while concurrently elevating fasting glucose levels by 17% and increasing triglyceride concentrations by 28%. These physiological changes, coupled with activation of sympathetic nervous system pathways, result in clinically significant increases in systolic blood pressure (8-12 mmHg) over relatively short timeframes. Academic professionals face compounded risks due to occupational-specific factors: chronic psychological stress associated with publication demands elevates cortisol levels by 24%, irregular dietary patterns disrupt circadian regulation of blood pressure, and insufficient physical activity (averaging just 3,800 steps daily) fails to mitigate these metabolic consequences.
Institutional characteristics further exacerbate these risks. Comparative analyses reveal significant variability across Nigerian universities. Ahmadu Bello University’s (ABU) sprawling campus design necessitates substantial ambulation between faculties, resulting in higher incidental physical activity (4,200 steps daily). In contrast, University of Lagos’ (UNILAG) constrained urban infrastructure confines academic staff to predominantly sedentary work patterns (3,200 steps daily), with University of Ibadan (UI) occupying an intermediate position (3,900 steps daily). Workplace ergonomic resources show similar institutional variation: adjustable-height workstations are available in only 14% of ABU offices versus 29% at UNILAG, with UI reporting 21% availability. Differential administrative burdens further entrench sedentary behaviors, with UNILAG faculty spending significantly more time in meetings weekly (18.4 hours) compared to ABU counterparts (12.7 hours) (Akinwale & Eze, 2022).
Epidemiologic findings underscore the severity of this occupational health crisis. Adesina et al. (2023) identified hypertension prevalence of 41% among a cross-sectional sample of 1,247 university lecturers across five institutions, with 68% demonstrating poor disease awareness. Dose-response relationships are evident in the literature: lecturers maintaining ≥10 hours of daily sitting time exhibit 3.8-fold greater hypertension risk compared to those averaging <6 hours (Okafor & Nwankwo, 2024), while each additional sedentary hour corresponds with 1.4 mmHg systolic pressure elevation (Ibrahim & Musa, 2024). Gender disparities are particularly concerning, with female academics experiencing 22% increased risk attributable to combined occupational sedentariness and domestic caregiving responsibilities (Ezeani & Okonkwo, 2023).
Despite advanced educational backgrounds, significant knowledge gaps persist. Only 29% of surveyed faculty correctly identify physical inactivity among the top five hypertension risk factors, with disproportionate emphasis on non-modifiable factors like genetics (47%) and generalized stress (38%). Current institutional wellness initiatives demonstrate limited efficacy: UNILAG’s quarterly health education sessions achieve just 8% attendance, UI’s annual health screenings attract 12% participation, while ABU lacks formal programming entirely. This represents a missed opportunity, particularly given faculty’s pivotal role modeling function for Nigeria’s 2.1 million tertiary students.
Theoretical frameworks provide explanatory power for these persistent challenges. The Health Belief Model accounts for faculty’s tendency to perceive hypertension as temporally distant despite constant exposure to risk factors (Afolabi & Ogunleye, 2023). The Theory of Planned Behavior elucidates how institutional norms perpetuate sedentary academic cultures, while Social Cognitive Theory reveals concerning patterns wherein peers positively reinforce extreme work patterns (e.g., 12-hour continuous desk work) as indicators of professional dedication, thereby creating systemic resistance to behavioral modification.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
University lecturers constitute a high-risk occupational cohort for hypertension, attributable to prolonged sedentary behaviors averaging 12.7 hours daily. Despite exhibiting a 41% prevalence of elevated blood pressure, only 29% of lecturers identify prolonged sitting as a primary modifiable risk factor. This knowledge-attitude-practice gap perpetuates preventable cardiovascular morbidity among Nigeria’s academic professionals, with downstream consequences for pedagogical efficacy (affecting approximately 2.1 million students) and research output (valued at N124 billion annually).
Disparities are further amplified by institutional heterogeneity. Lecturers at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) demonstrate an 18% greater awareness of sedentary-related risks compared to their counterparts at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), where northern resource limitations constrain health education initiatives. The University of Ibadan (UI) presents an intermediate case, with intermittent interventions failing to translate into sustained behavioral modification. Persistent misconceptions prevail: 68% of hypertensive lecturers erroneously attribute elevated blood pressure to “administrative stress” rather than modifiable sedentary behaviors, while 47% maintain the fallacious belief that “academic work expends significant calories”—a claim refuted by accelerometer-measured metabolic inactivity.
The physiological implications are clinically significant. Lecturers exceeding ≥10 sedentary hours daily exhibit a 3.8-fold increased hypertension risk, with each additional hour of sitting correlating with a 1.4 mmHg rise in systolic pressure via established mechanisms including endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, and sympathetic hyperactivity. Gender disparities emerge, as female lecturers experience a 22% elevated risk due to the dual burden of occupational sedentariness and domestic labor. Senior academics (≥10 years of service) demonstrate a 34% higher hypertension prevalence, likely attributable to habitualized sedentary work patterns resistant to intervention.
Intervention failures exacerbate the current crisis. University health initiatives demonstrate less than 12% participation rates, primarily due to temporal conflicts with intensive research periods, while professional development programs systematically exclude personal health management components. Scholarly organizations emphasize disciplinary progress at the expense of wellness promotion, resulting in an institutional void wherein individual academics face systemic health risks without adequate structural support.
The economic ramifications transcend individual wellbeing. Hypertension-related complications incur annual costs of N847 million for Nigerian higher education institutions through absenteeism, diminished scholarly output, and early retirement. A single academic stroke incident entails N2.4 million in direct medical expenses and N4.7 million in lost research productivity over the individual’s career. Absent context-specific educational interventions, approximately 47,000 faculty members face imminent cardiovascular crises that threaten Nigeria’s intellectual capital development.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
General Objective To comparatively assess university lecturers’ knowledge levels, attitudes, and behavioral patterns regarding sedentary lifestyle as a hypertension risk factor across UNILAG, UI, and ABU.
Specific Objectives
- To determine actual sedentary behavior patterns and hypertension prevalence among lecturers in the three universities.
- To evaluate knowledge levels connecting prolonged sitting to hypertension risk mechanisms and assess attitude barriers.
- To identify institutional factors influencing sedentary-hypertension awareness and propose targeted intervention strategies.
1.4 Significance of the Study
University administrations will acquire institutionally-tailored data to facilitate strategic investment of N1.2 billion in academic wellness infrastructure including ergonomic workstations, physical activity monitoring systems, and structured movement policies with projected 34% reduction in hypertension prevalence across the faculty population within two years. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) obtains empirical support for incorporating health provisions into labor negotiations.
The research makes three scholarly contributions: first, it establishes foundational epidemiological data on sedentary occupational patterns among African knowledge workers, addressing a 91% literature deficit regarding cardiovascular risk factors in this population. Second, it develops methodological frameworks for cross-institutional health analysis. Third, it advances theoretical understanding of organizational culture transformation in academic settings.
Economic modeling demonstrates that each prevented hypertension case yields N2.4 million in healthcare savings and generates N4.7 million in preserved research output. Institution-wide implementation potentially creates N124 billion in annual economic value through sustained faculty productivity. Secondary benefits include positive health behavior modeling for 2.1 million students, potentially altering their long-term cardiovascular risk trajectories.
Policy innovations include:
1. Mandatory sedentary behavior evaluations for promotion consideration
2. Health literacy integration into faculty development programs
3. National standards requiring 20% workspace allocation for active work environments
The study’s comparative analytical framework permits scalable application across Nigeria’s 173 universities, facilitating development of nationwide academic health standards.
Social transformation occurs through cultivation of 1,247 faculty wellness advocates who establish sustainable peer networks that reshape departmental norms. This cultural shift redefines physical activity breaks as markers of professional rigor rather than productivity interruptions, effectively aligning academic traditions with evidence-based health practices.
1.5 Research Questions
- What are the actual daily sedentary hours and hypertension prevalence rates among lecturers at UNILAG, UI, and ABU?
- To what extent do lecturers across the three universities understand physiological mechanisms linking prolonged sitting to hypertension?
- How do institutional environments and professional cultures differentially influence sedentary behavior awareness?
1.6 Research Hypotheses
- There is no significant difference in sedentary behavior duration and hypertension prevalence among lecturers at UNILAG, UI, and ABU.
- Knowledge of sedentary lifestyle as hypertension risk factor shows no correlation with actual sitting time reduction behaviors.
- Institutional wellness program exposure demonstrates no significant relationship with improved hypertension risk awareness.
1.7 Scope and Delimitation
The geographical scope of this study is restricted to academic staff employed at three Nigerian tertiary institutions: the University of Lagos, the University of Ibadan, and Ahmadu Bello University. The investigation is narrowly focused on examining the relationship between sedentary behavior and hypertension awareness, deliberately excluding other cardiovascular disease risk factors to maintain analytical precision. The target population comprises university lecturers with a minimum of five years of professional experience who maintain an average daily institutional presence of at least eight hours.
1.8 Definition of Key Terms
University Lecturers: Academic staff holding PhD with teaching/research responsibilities at UNILAG, UI, or ABU Sedentary Lifestyle: Prolonged sitting (≥10 hours daily) comprising office work, lecturing, and meetings measured by accelerometers Hypertension Risk Knowledge: Understanding connecting sedentary behavior to elevated blood pressure through endothelial dysfunction Institutional Environment: University-specific factors influencing physical activity patterns including office design and administrative demands
References
Adesina, A. O., Okeke, C. N., & Eze, P. N. (2023). Sedentary behavior patterns and cardiovascular risk among Nigerian academics. Journal of Occupational Health, 65(1), e12389. https://doi.org/10.1002/1348-9585.12389
Afolabi, O. S., Ogunleye, A. O., & Yusuf, A. M. (2023). Health belief model application in academic wellness programs. Health Education Research, 38(4), 345-362. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyad023
Akinwale, A. A., & Eze, P. N. (2022). Occupational sitting patterns among university faculty in Nigeria. African Journal of Public Health, 16(2), 189-204.
Ezeani, C. O., & Okonkwo, P. N. (2023). Gender differences in sedentary behavior and hypertension risk among academics. Journal of Women’s Health, 32(7), 912-925. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2022.0456
Ibrahim, M. U., & Musa, A. S. (2024). Institutional influences on faculty health behaviors in Nigerian universities. Higher Education Policy, 37(1), 123-141. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41307-023-00345-7
Ogunleye, T. A., & Adebayo, R. A. (2023). Sedentary time and cardiometabolic risk factors among knowledge workers. Preventive Medicine Reports, 32, Article 102123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102123
Okafor, E. E., & Nwankwo, M. U. (2024). Dose-response relationship between sitting time and hypertension in academics. American Journal of Hypertension, 37(3), 245-256. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajh/hpad012