NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH PROMOTION

Integrating Health Protection and School Health Programme for Effective Emergencies Preparedness and Responses in Nigerian Education Sector

2023-10-16T22:24:23+00:00

Health protection and school health programme (SHP) are core areas of public health. Amidst the current challenges facing the Nigerian education sector, especially the primary and secondary education systems, the need to take proactive, evidence-based measures to enhance the quality of a healthy school environment, promotion of child-friendly school environment, quality of teaching and learning, healthy development, the safety of students and school personnel becomes expedient. The paper accentuates the need to integrate health protection and school health programmes for effective emergency preparedness and responses in Nigerian schools. Health protection components of communicable disease control, resilience, and response, environmental public health and emergency preparedness should be integrated with the components of school health programme such as school health services, health education and promotion, healthy school environment and mental health. To achieve the seamless integration of health protection into the SHP for positive outcomes, the authors recommended continuous professional development of health and physical education teachers, school health personnel, school administrators, and education policy and program developers in Nigeria. The authors further recommended a multisectoral approach, adequate resource mobilization/allocation (funds, human resources, and technical assistance) for effective integration to yield expected outcomes, and a review of the National School Health Policy to meet the current health needs of students/pupils in Nigeria.

Integrating Health Protection Strategies and Approaches in the Maintenance of Health-Promoting Behaviours in the 21st Century

2023-10-16T22:18:21+00:00

Health promotion and health protection might seem synonymous, but in actual sense, they are different as the former encourages healthy behaviours, and the latter prevents health and safety dangers. Health promotion and health protection work individually, and collaboratively, to impact health. Health promotion addresses large scale public health concerns, beginning with the well-being of each individual. Health promotion activities are those which seek to modify the behavior of individuals by improving the choices that affect society at large. The primary goal of health promotion is to decrease the risk of illness or disease and improve overall health; whilst health protection is concerned with preventing the spread of communicable diseases by establishing minimum standards, often in the form of regulations e.g. Covid-19 protocols. Health protection is often managed by the public sector.

Expanding the Frontiers of Health Promotion Through Health Protection Strategies and Approaches

2023-10-16T22:16:06+00:00

Health promotion as a global health strategy introduced into public health practice by the World Health Organisation’s Alma Ata Declaration of 1986 was favoured to significantly drive the realization of optimal health and well-being depicted in the 1946 definition of health. However, the constantly changing global health and disease climate especially the continuous emerging of viral disease pandemics and environmental health threats occasioned by climate change has increasingly necessitated further innovations and dynamism in public health approaches. This lead paper examines possible ways of expanding the frontiers of health promotion practice through innovative integration of health protection approaches. The two public health components – health promotion and health protection were independently discussed highlighting their objectives, core principles and strategies. A nexus was established in some implementation strategies with particular expose on the common application of behaviour change theories and models by the two concepts towards protecting and promoting the health of individuals and communities. The paper identified how synergistic application of the two concepts can successfully achieve protection from diseases and environmental threats, mitigate their effects, build resilience among communities, and enable effective emergency response in various settings including health institutions, communities, schools and workplaces. Hence, it was concluded that expanding the frontiers of health promotion towards health protection approaches is inevitable since health protection provides the foundation for health promotion to thrive and the aims of both can be achieved through commonly shared strategies. A major recommendation of the paper is that policy implementation guidelines should be monitored to ensure that multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary collaboration is strictly adhered to in order to sufficiently harvest its benefits in preventing diseases, protecting and promoting the health of the public.

Knowledge and Utilization of Antenatal Care Services among Pregnant Women in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, Enugu State

2023-10-16T22:20:34+00:00

The study investigated knowledge and utilization of antenatal care services among pregnant women in Isi-Uzo LGA in Enugu state. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design. The study population comprised of 1,398 pregnant women and a sample of 300 pregnant women drawn using a two-stage sampling procedure took part in the study. The instrument for data collection was a researchers’ designed questionnaire titled knowledge and utilization of antenatal care services questionnaire. Data was analysed using frequencies, percentages and Chi-square statistics. Results showed that pregnant women in Isi-Uzo LGA in Enugu State had very high knowledge (89.2%) of antenatal care services and majority of pregnant women (87.1%) utilized antenatal care services. There was a significant difference in the level of knowledge of ANC services among pregnant women in Isi-Uzo LGA based on age (χ²= 12.786, p= .002< .05), parity (χ²= 27.697, p= .000< .05) and education level (χ²= 11.356, p= .010< .05). There was no significant difference in the level of utilization of ANC services among pregnant women in Isi-Uzo LGA based on age (χ²= 2.110, p= .348> .05) and education level (χ²= 2.856, p= .414> .05). However, there was a significant difference in the level of utilization of ANC services among pregnant women in Isi-Uzo LGA, Enugu State based on parity (χ²= 28.184, p= .000< .05). Based on the findings, the authors recommended that health education should be promoted by organizing campaign through social media to educate women about antenatal care services and utilization of antenatal care services during pregnancy.

Knowledge and Practice of Food Hygiene among Women Accommodated in Flood Displaced Person’s Camps in Bayelsa State

2023-10-16T22:27:38+00:00

The 2022 flood caused a massive destruction of property worth millions of naira, loss of human lives, and displaced millions of persons who mostly stayed in flood displaced person’s camps (FDP) that do not have basic amenities. The insanitary condition of these camps make them a perfect avenue for the spread of water-borne and food-borne diseases. To curtail the spread of these infectious diseases in any community, basic food hygiene principles must be understood and observed by individuals and families in the population. The study assessed knowledge and practice of food hygiene among women accommodated in flood displaced person’s camps in Bayelsa State. The study adopted cross-sectional survey design. All the 275 women that were accommodated in the three FDP camps in Bayelsa State formed the population of the study. This instrument for data collection was a self-developed questionnaire titled Knowledge and Practice of Food Hygiene among Women accommodated in Flood Displaced Person’s Camps questionnaire (KPFHWAFDPC) with three sections. A reliability coefficient of 0.84 was established through the split-half method. Data obtained were coded into software package for social science (SPSS-IBM) and analyzed using frequency and percentage for the research questions and chi-square the hypothesis. The hypothesis was tested using chi-square, set at 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that, majority of the respondents had both poor knowledge (77.5) and practice (84.2) of food hygiene. There was a significant difference in the practice of food hygiene among flood displaced women in Bayelsa State in relation to education level. The author recommended that relevant stakeholders in the health sector should carry out intensive public awareness programmes on food hygiene principles at the grassroots level using appropriate channels of communication.

Using Health Belief Model as a theoretical basis for Implementation of Health Protection Strategies among School Children in the Post COVID 19 Era: Implications for Health Education

2023-10-16T22:37:35+00:00

Infectious diseases are common health problems affecting school children in this dispensation. Amidst the innumerable infectious diseases, COVID-19 is the most dreadful. This disease affects all human species, irrespective of age, level or class. COVID-19 disease is caused by a virus named SARS-Cov2, which deleteriously hampers academic progress of school children due to severe complications underlying COVID-19 incidence. In the Post COVID-19 Era, the use of Health belief model through health protection strategies is necessary to effectively manage the spread of the disease and other infectious disease that may arise among the school children. The paper however, examined health protection strategies such as planning and preparedness; prevention and early detection; investigation and control; wider public health management and leadership this is aimed to further reduce the impact of COVID-19 in this Post COVID-19 Era by assessing the implication of health education for school children. It was concluded that health protection strategies could help prevent the spread of diseases in the post COVID-19 era; also it was recommended that health protection strategy should be encouraged through health education among school children.

Knowledge of Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus among Civil Servants in Langtang South Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria

2023-10-16T22:29:33+00:00

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has been a global public health burden, particularly in Africa and among the ageing population. It becomes imperative that young adults, especially civil servants possess good knowledge of the risk factors for T2DM to prevent and manage the disease. This study investigated level of knowledge of risk factors for T2DM among civil servants in Langtang South Local Government Area, Plateau State. Five research questions and four null hypotheses guided the study. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among civil servants in Langtang South Local Government Area, Plateau State. A total number of 350 civil servants drawn using non-proportional stratified random sampling technique participated. Data collection was done using Knowledge of Risk Factors of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Questionnaire (KRDMIIQ). Descriptive statistics of frequency and percentage, and inferential statistics of chi-square statistics were used for analyses. The findings revealed that 60.6 per cent of civil servants had high knowledge of risk factors for T2DM. Age (p=.169 >.05), gender (p=.117 >.05), educational qualification (p=.103 >.05), and having a relative/friend with T2DM (p=.869 >.05) were not significantly associated with knowledge of risk factors for T2DM among civil servants. This research work proves that high knowledge of risk factors for T2DM should be acquired so as to reduce prevalence of T2DM disease.

Knowledge of Risk Factors of Dental Caries among Secondary School Students in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State

2023-10-16T22:34:14+00:00

Dental caries is a complex chronic oral disease. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge of risk factors of dental caries among secondary school students in Nsukka local government area, Enugu state. Three objectives, three corresponding research questions and two null hypotheses were posed to guide the study. The descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted for the study. The population for the study consisted of 3,039 students in public secondary schools in Nsukka Local Government Area. Multi-stage sampling techniques were used to draw the sample of 384 Secondary School Students for the study. The instrument used for data collection was the researcher structured questionnaire titled knowledge of Risk factors of Dental caries questionnaire (KRDQ. Face validity of the instrument was established by three experts from the department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Percentages and frequencies were used to answer the research questions. The null hypotheses were tested using chi-square at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that the overall percentage of secondary school students with correct response on knowledge of risk factors of dental caries was 49.1%, it is low because it is below average. The result showed that more percentage of female secondary school students (51.4%) had correct response on knowledge of risk factors of dental caries than male secondary school student (46.6%). Also, students aged 17-19 had the highest correct response on Knowledge of risk factors of dental caries. It was therefore recommended among others that intensive health education programme focusing more on knowledge of risk factors of dental caries and giving more attention on male students and younger students.

Patterns of Substance Use in a Sample of Commercial Motorcycle Riders in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State

2023-10-16T22:40:15+00:00

The study investigated patterns of substance use in a sample of commercial motorcycle riders in Nsukka Local Government Area (LGA), Enugu State. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between January and April, 2023 at various designated units of the commercial motorcycle riders in Nsukka LGA. A total number of 600 commercial motorcycle riders participated. Data collection was done using self-developed Patterns of Substance Use Questionnaire (PSUQ), in which part of it was adapted from Drug Use Screening Inventory (revised DUSI-R). Descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, and chi-square statistics were used for analyses. The findings revealed that commercial motorcycle riders mostly used over the counter medications (69.3%), prescription pain killers (61.5%), alcohol (45.5%), and caffeine (41.0%) in the home, followed by workplaces and public places. Commercial motorcycle riders mostly used over the counter medications (83.2%), prescription pain killers (67.4%), alcohol (48.3%), smoking tobacco (47.2%), caffeine (46.2%), cannabis (35.1%), and heroine/morphines/opiates (21.4%) daily other than weekly. Education level (p =.007<0.05) and marital status (p =.036<0.05) were significantly associated with the patterns of substance use among commercial motorcycle riders. However, Enugu State government should strengthen existing laws and policies on substance abuse by enforcing a ban on the sale of substances with psychoactive properties to any individual that convey passengers from one place to another in the course of operation, irrespective of the setting (home, workplaces, public places) or period (daily, weekly) the substances may be requested.

Level of Utilization of Primary Health Care Services in a Selected Community in South-South Nigeria

2023-10-23T08:46:18+00:00

The study was on the Level of Utilization of Primary Health Care Services (PHCS) in Aguda-Epie community in Yenegoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The aim was to determine the Level of Utilization of Primary Health Care Services in that community. It was a community based cross-sectional descriptive survey. Population consisted of 15,000 members of that community. A sample size of 330 respondents were selected by means of multi-stage sampling technique. Five objectives and four hypotheses guided the study. Instrument for Data collection was structured questionnaire schedule, (LUPHCSQ), which was validated both for face and content by experts. Reliability of the instrument was established by split –half method, with reliability co-efficient of r=.98. Collected datum were analyzed with SPSS 25 and interpreted using frequencies, percentages, Mean Scores and one-way ANOVA statistics. Result showed that, 1) all Primary Health Care Services (PHCS) were provided at the Comprehensive Primary Health Care Centre Agudama-Epie, 2) There is high level of awareness of PHCS among the respondents (an average score of 88.65%), 3) overall level of utilization of PHCS was low (Grand mean = 2.0 against the criterion mean of 2.5). 4) the most influencing factor of level of utilization of Primary Health Care Services in Agudama-Epie community are: non availability of 24 hours’ service, 303(91.8%), non-availability of advanced medical equipment 303(91.8%), non-availability of prescribed drugs, 280(84.8%). The study concluded that the level of utilization of PHCS is low and recommended that the media should be involved to educate citizens of availability and the need to make use of available PHCS to achieve the goal of universal health coverage.

Prevalence of Prostate Problems among Adults in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State

2023-10-16T22:42:42+00:00

This study was carried out to provide information on the prevalence of prostate problems among adults in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed for this study. Four research questions were posed to guide the study while one research hypothesis postulated to guide the study was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The population of the study was 1,010 adult males aged forty years or older. The entire population was used as the sample size. The instrument for data collection was a self-developed and pretested Data Collection Schedule Form (DCSF).Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage and Chi square inferential statistic. The results showed that the prevalence of prostate problems was 32.3%. BPH had a prevalence of 57.4%, CA-Prostate had 19.3% and Prostatitis had 23.3%. The prevalence increased with age; those 70 years and above had the highest prevalence of 48.8%; P > .05 (P = .616) at .05 level of significance indicating no significant association in the prevalence of prostate problems among the different age cohorts. It was concluded that there was a high prevalence of prostate problems in the studied population. This implies that one in three apparently normal men 40 years and above had one of the prostate problems. This calls for a concerted effort to reverse this trend. Researchers should embark on research on the causes, risk factors, diagnosis and management of the conditions. This can be achieved by government and other funders making grants available to researchers.

Knowledge of Common Sexually Transmitted Infections Among In-School Adolescents in Nsukka Local Government Area Enugu State

2023-10-16T23:21:08+00:00

The purpose of the study was to investigate knowledge of common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among in-school adolescents in Nsukka Local Government Area (LGA), Enugu State. Three specific objectives with corresponding research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. A cross-sectional descriptive research design was used for the study. The study population comprised of 15,479 in-school adolescents in Nsukka LGA of Enugu State. The sample for the study was 300 in-school adolescents drawn using a two stage sampling procedure. The instrument for data collection was a 24-item researchers’ designed questionnaire titled “knowledge of common sexually transmitted infections among in-school adolescents questionnaire (KCSTIAQ)”. The research questions were answered using frequency and percentages, while the null hypotheses were tested using chi-square statistics. The result of the study showed that: (50.1%) per cent of the respondents had moderate level of common STIs. in-school adolescents aged 17-20 years (61.8%) and those aged ≥ 21 years (65.7%) had high knowledge of common STIs while those aged 12-16 years (49.5%) had moderate level of knowledge of common STIs. In-school adolescent males and females (54.4%vs46.9%) had moderate level of knowledge of common STIs. Age and gender had significant influence in the knowledge of common STIs among in-school adolescents. Based on the findings, the authors recommended among others, that parents should give their children proper sex education, informing them of the dangers of pre-marital sex, infidelity after marriage and encourage questions concerning sex and providing the right and realistic answers

Constraints to Participation in Immunization Programmes among Childbearing Women Attending Health Services in Yorro Local Government Area Health Facilities, Taraba State, Nigeria

2023-10-16T22:50:22+00:00

The study determined constraints to participation in infant immunization programmes among childbearing women attending health facilities in Yorro Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study objectives were to determine constrains relating to: finance; culture/religion, politics and personnel thus four corresponding research questions guided the study. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Population for the study consisted of 3,620 childbearing women. A sample size of 362 childbearing women was selected and used for the study. A validated and reliable questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages. Results showed that majority (81%) of the respondents indicated that cost of transportation to immunization clinics is a major financial constraint to participation in immunization programmes. Also, 85.7 per cent agreed that preference to traditional medicine is a major cultural constraint while 72 per cent were of the opinion that immunization is a way to reduce children’s fertility. The study concluded that cost of transportation to immunization clinics, preference to traditional medicine and unproven beliefs are the major financial, cultural and religious constraints to participation in immunization programme respectively. The study recommended that more health facilities should be built and strategically situated in each community to increase proximity and accessibility and that childbearing woman should be given health talks periodically during antenatal and immunization to help correct unscientific beliefs regarding immunization

Social Intelligence and Self-Concept as Correlates of Marital Stability among Health Workers in Primary Health Care Facilities in Enugu State, Nigeria

2023-10-16T22:54:43+00:00

Marital stability is the ideal expectation from every home globally. In contrary, instability of health workers in Enugu State is assuming an alarming rate. The study assessed social intelligence and self-concept as correlates of marital stability among health workers in Enugu State. A facility-based correlational study was conducted between December 2022 and March 2023 at various government primary care health facilities in Enugu State. A total number of 347 male and female health workers participated. Data collection was done using Social Intelligence Questionnaire (SIQ), Self Concept Questionnaire (SCQ), and Marital Stability Questionnaire (MSQ). The internal consistency reliability of the instruments was established using Cronbach’s alpha method. The reliability indices for SIQ, SCQ, and MSQ were .89, .80, and .78 respectively. Linear regression was used for analyses. The findings revealed that social intelligence (r = .328) and self-concept (r = .340) moderately correlate with marital stability among health workers in Enugu State. Social intelligence (β = .328, p < .001) and self-concept (β = .340, p < .001) are significantly correlated with marital stability among primary health care workers in Enugu State (p < .001). This research proves that increase in self-concept and social intelligence can help to increase and sustain marital stability. However, counsellors should organize workshops on social intelligence and marital stability to help health workers to achieve stable homes. Also, social welfare officers should organize self-concept intervention programmes for married couples to attain marital stablilty in their relationships.

Perceived Predisposing Factors of Spousal Abuse among Couples in Owerri Municipal Council, Imo State

2023-10-16T23:00:14+00:00

The study examined the predisposing factors of spousal abuse among couples in Owerri Municipal Council, Imo State. Four research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The population of the study consisted of fifteen thousand, seven hundred and seventy-five (15,775) couples in Owerri Municipal Council. A two-stage sampling technique was used in selecting three hundred (300) respondents as the sample size, out of which 295 copies of the questionnaire were properly filled and used for the study. The structured questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. Data generated were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation as well as inferential statistics of ANOVA at 0.05 level of significance. The result revealed that majority of the couples attested to the research questions confirming to the predisposing factors of spousal abuse: communication-related factors ( =3.32), relationship-related factors ( =3.20) and communication-related factors ( =3.46). Also, the result of the study revealed that the hypothesis postulated was significant. Based on the findings, the researcher recommended among others that couples should learn to imbibe virtues such as tolerance and self-control and resolve marital issues amicably instead of unnecessarily criticizing their partners. Government should employ preventive interventions such as increasing the educational status of women which can help break the cycle of spousal abuse.