This research was carried out to uncover the knowledge and awareness of insomnia among 

undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. To achieve the objectives of this 

study, the following research questions were asked: what is the knowledge of insomnia 

among undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University? What is the knowledge of the 

benefit of adequate sleep among undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University? What 

is the knowledge of the causes of insomnia among undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello 

University? What is the knowledge of the consequences of insomnia among undergraduate 

students of Ahmadu Bello University? How will HBM explain the knowledge and awareness 

of insomnia among undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University? However, a 

qualitative research method was adopted for the study; Health Belief Model was used as a 

theoretical framework. Moreover, interview was used as an instrument for data collection. 

The researcher interviewed 5 respondents, from the population of the study who were all 

undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University. Similarly, data was collected from the 

five (5) interviews which were transcribed, read, examined, re-examined using thematic 

analysis and identify 40 narratives explaining knowledge and awareness of undergraduate 

students regarding insomnia. The narratives are organized into 18 recurring topics and 

further collapsed into ten (10) emergent categories. Therefore, the study discovered sleep 

deficiency as their knowledge of insomnia. Furthermore, the study also discovered healthy 

sleep and vigor as their knowledge of adequate sleep. Medical condition, medication, 

hereditary disease, and caffeine were also discovered as the causes of insomnia. Medical 

conditions, physiological condition, and psychological disorder were also discovered as their 

knowledge of the consequences of insomnia. Additionally, it was perceived that the 

fundamental knowledge and awareness of insomnia influenced two of the HBM construct 

which are modifying variables and perceive severity. It was however, recommended that 

students should maintain good sleep hygiene by performing an exercise, limiting caffeine 

intake, avoiding late night meals, avoid naps, and avoid noisy environment. It is further 

recommended they change habits that disrupt sleep such as late night T.V watching and 

internet surfing, they should regularly sleep a total of 7-9 or 6-10 hours each night in a 24

hours period, avoid self-medication, and visit the doctor if they felt any abnormalities in their 

body .Finally sleep hygiene education program should be organize to create awareness on 

insomnia, its causes, consequences, and the benefit of having a healthy sleep. This can be 

achieve using the media or medical professionals as it will help tremendously towards 

educating students on insomnia.          

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title:  - - - - - - - - - - - i

Declaration  - - - - - - - - - - ii

Certification - - - - - - - - - - - iii

Dedication  - - - - - - - - - - iv

Acknowledgement  - - - - - - - - - v

Abstract  - - - - - - - - - - vi

Table of content  - - - - - - - - - vii

List of Appendixes - - - - - - - - - ix

CHAPTER ONE:   INTRODUCTION 

 1.1 Background of the Study - - - - - - - 11.

1.1 Knowledge - - - - - - - - - 21

.1.2 Awareness - - - - - - - - - 31

.1.3 Information use- - - - - - - - - 3

1.2 Statement of the Problem - - - - - - - 4

1.3 Research Questions - - - - - - - - 4

1.4 Objectives of the Study - - - - - - - 5

1.5 Significance of the Study - - - - - - - 5vii

1.6 Scope of the Study - - - - - - - - 6

1.7 Limitation of the Study- - - - - - - - 6

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms - - - - - - 7

REFERENCES - - - - - - - - 8

CHAPTER TWO   2.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - - 10

2.2 Theoretical framework - - - - - - - 10

2.2.1  Previous Studies that Employed HBM - - - - - 12

  REFERENCES - - - - - - - - 18

CHAPTER  THREE   

3.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - - 20

3.1 Research Methodology - - - - - - - 20

3.2 Research Design - - - - - - - - 20

3.3 Population of the study - - - - - - - 21

3.4 Sampling and Sampling Techniques - - - - - - 21

3.5 Sampling Procedure - - - - - - - - 22

3.6 Instrument for Data Collection - - - - - - 22

3.7 Procedure for Data collection - - - - - - - 22viii

3.8 Procedure for Data Analysis - - - - - - - 23

3.9      Rigor in Qualitative Research - - - - - - - 23   

REFERENCES - - - - - - - - 27

CHAPTER FOUR   : FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS   

4.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - - 28

4.1 Interview Analysis - - - - - - - - 28

4.2  Share with me your knowledge of insomnia?- - - - - 29

4.3  Share with me your knowledge on adequate sleep? - - - - 30

4.4 Share with me your knowledge of the benefit of sleeping well at night?- - 32

4.5 Share with me your knowledge of the causes of insomnia? - - - 34

4.6  Share with me your knowledge of the consequences of sleeping less than six hours at night - - - - - - - - 37

4.7      Share with me your knowledge of the consequences of replacing your lost sleep during    weekends? - - - - - - - - - 39

4.8     How will HBM explain the knowledge and awareness of insomnia among undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University? - - - - - 41   

REFERENCES - - - - - - - - 44ix

CHAPTER FIVE:    SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS   

5.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - - 45

5.1 Summary of the study - - - - - - - - 45

5.2 Summary of findings: - - - - - - - - 45

5.3  Implications of the study - - - - - - - 50

5.4 Conclusion - - - - - - - - - 51

5.5 Recommendations - - - - - - - - 51

5.6      Suggestion for Future Research - - - - - - 52

Bibliography - - - - - - - - - 53

Appendix I - - - - - - - - - 56

Appendix II - - - - - - - - - 58Appendix III - - - - - - - - - 68