Definitions of health and perceptions of health behaviours and healthy environments: parent's perspective

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to explore current health behaviours and health environments among a sample of parents of adolescents receiving public mental health care in South Africa. Methods: This qualitative study was grounded in phenomenology. The participants included 30 parents. Individual interviews were conducted by a trained researcher. The thematic content analysis approach as suggested by Georgi was used to make sense of the data. Findings: Health was defined as having a good physical and mental constitution. The broad theme that emerged from analysing the perceptions of parents regarding what constitutes health behaviours and a healthy environment was that there were facilitators and barriers in each instance. Facilitators were internally driven (personal choice and ability to control a healthy life-style) and barriers were stated as those factors external to the individual (environmental factors, inability to control a healthy life-style and inherited medical conditions). The exorbitant cost of healthy food was cited as a primary reason for not being able to encourage family members to improve their pattern of eating. Discussion: These findings have implications for family-based interventions.