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Leisure Activities and Recreation Facilities in Nigeria: Implications for Wholesome Community Health

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Book cover Handbook of Sustainable Development and Leisure Services

Part of the book series: World Sustainability Series ((WSUSE))

Abstract

The social conditions in which people live have been identified as an important indicator of the health status of communities and a critical determinant of health inequities. Thus, health policies are meant to recognise the interdependence of community health and these social conditions. This paper aims to conceptualise leisure activities and recreation facilities as valid social determinants of health variables, being veritable factors for promoting community health. The effects of physical activities, social interactions and environmental factors on communal health indices are examined by exploring the physical, health and tourism science literature to generate relevant insights. Application and implications for Nigerian communities are also conducted. Leisure activities and recreation facilities are identified as two major variables that are relevant to the social determinants of health framework. This paper recognises that health equity in communities is enhanced by the engagement of people in fun, activities, pleasure and entertainment. It establishes the critical link between leisure activities, recreation facilities and built environment on one hand and community health on the other hand. It emphasises that investments in infrastructure are a sustainable way of promoting community health and addressing health inequities. A strong case is made for Nigerian communities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Management, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Coimbatore, India

    Babatunde Abiodun Balogun

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  1. Babatunde Abiodun Balogun
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Correspondence to Babatunde Abiodun Balogun .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Consumer Behaviour Research, SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw, Poland

    Adrian Lubowiecki-Vikuk

  2. Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Barcelos, Portugal

    Bruno Miguel Barbosa de Sousa

  3. Department of Geography, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia

    Bojan M. Đerčan

  4. HAW Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

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Balogun, B.A. (2021). Leisure Activities and Recreation Facilities in Nigeria: Implications for Wholesome Community Health. In: Lubowiecki-Vikuk, A., de Sousa, B.M.B., Đerčan, B.M., Leal Filho, W. (eds) Handbook of Sustainable Development and Leisure Services. World Sustainability Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59820-4_4

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