Behaviours and behaviour change: Implication for driving health security in Nigeria by 2050

Abstract

Introduction: Behaviors are dynamic in their interactions and can change overtime based on different factors. Many factors affect people's behaviors, consequently resulting in behavior changes that present serious challenges to preventive health and health seeking behavior in Nigeria. Strategies to change behavior are targeted towards different levels of individual, organizational community and population levels, using multilevel interventions to bring about long-term sustainable behavior change. Situation analysis: Pertinent issues relating to sustainability of health and social care systems in the face of instability and conflict in some regions in the country threatens national health security. Globally, and as true for Nigeria, there is an urgency to address the "triple burden of diseases' which includes ongoing threats of communicable diseases, and newly emerging and re-emerging diseases and recent increase in occurrence of noncommunicable diseases. Forecast: Behavior change contribution to achieving health security and sustainable development by 2050 could effectively address national health issues by adopting a holistic approach that encourage health promotion strategies and intersectoral action areas to build healthy public policy, create supportive environments for health, strengthen community action for health, develop personal skills, and re-orient health services, to build sustainable health systems. Conclusion: Operationalizing evidence-based practice and public health depends on behavior change. Behavior change interventions are vital for effective practice of medical science and public health, and other pertinent issues facing society.