EXPERIENCES OF HEALTH PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH CHEMICAL HAIR RELAXATION AMONG FEMALE MASTERS OF PUBLIC HEALTH STUDENTS COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

Abstract

Chemical hair relaxers has found widespread use in African Negroid women given their desire to straighten their curly hair, the pressure from advertisers, fashion and contact with other cultures. This process of beautification as however been linked to health problems like; scalp infections, scalp burns/lesions, scalp irritation, hair loss; with a resulting psychosocial stresses such as worrying, fear, shame, depression, reduced self worth; which are contributory to reductions in the quality of life (QoL) of its users. Community based studies in Nigeria regarding these entities are seemingly deficient. The study was aimed at assessing the experiences of health problems associated with the use of these chemicals. This descriptive cross-sectional study involved a total of 250 female masters of Public Health students of the University of Ibadan, randomly selected from their departmental lecture rooms using a two-stage random sampling technique. The respondents were exposed to a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire to elicit information regarding their socio-demographic characteristics, perception, health experiences, psychosocial impacts and strategies for coping with health complications as a result of chemical relaxation. Data were analysed and presented descriptively and inferentially. Age of participants was found to be 27.0±2.6 years. Results showed health problems due to chemical relaxation ranging from mild and moderate experiences of itching scalp (71.2%), hair loss (71.4%), to severe cases of thinning/breakage (9.6%), hair discolouration (16.4%), scalp lesion/burns (12.6%), scaring/flaking of scalp (1.6%), and (4.4%) had scalp pruritus/irritation. Results also showed that (57.6%) of students had good perception regarding chemical hair relaxation. Psychosocial impacts were depression (22.4%), feeling of shame (41.2%), embarrassment (52.4%), worrying (30.4%), loss of self confidence (28.0%), hate (23.6%), reduced self worth (23.2%), frustration and sadness (22.8%). The most prevalent strategy for coping was wearing of scarfs and wigs to cover hair (83.8%). Other identified strategies for coping were; frequent oiling to manage frizzy hair (83.2%), use of anti-dandruff shampoo or creams (56.0%), biotin supplements use (48.4%), wearing traditional hair styles (52.0%), use of chemical/herbal treatments, use of leave-in conditioners (78.4%), and steaming hair every three months (43.6%). A significant association was found

between perception regarding frequency of chemical hair relaxation and health experiences due to relaxer use (x2=90.85, p=0.00, x2=93.83, p=0.00, x2=79.59, p=0.00), and perception regarding non-professional handling and health experiences due to relaxer use (x2=26.57, p=0.00, x2=62.51, p=0.00, x2=42.89, p=0.00). This study also found a significant relationship between hair discolouration (x2=154.82, p=0.00), dandruff (x2=89.50, p=0.00), hair loss (x2=89.55, p=0.00) and feelings of depression, a significant association between dandruff and loss of self confidence (x2=61.41, p=0.00), and an association between hair loss and reduced self worth (x2=74.27, p=0.00). Female students experienced health challenges as a result of chemical relaxation with its use still widespread among them for beautification and ease of hair management. The various self-reported experiences have health implications and might call for a greater emphasis by regulatory bodies on safer modes of applications, and stiffer market regulations as regarding the active chemicals in the relaxers.