NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH PROMOTION

Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus among Patients in Healthcare Facilities in Ikwerre LGA, Rivers State, from 2019-2023

Akai E.U. — 2026-10-12

Diabetes mellitus is an important public health concern, but facility-level evidence from Ikwerre Local Government Area is limited. The study determined the annual and subgroup prevalence of documented diabetes mellitus among patient records in selected healthcare facilities in Ikwerre LGA from 2019 to 2023. A retrospective review of 336,820 eligible patient records identified 354 documented diabetes diagnoses. Frequencies, prevalence rates per 10,000 records, and chisquare tests were used. Results revealed that overall period prevalence was 10.5 per 10,000 records, while the unweighted mean annual rate was 11.1 per 10,000. Recorded rates were higher among males than females and among patients with formal education than those with informal education. Documented diabetes diagnoses varied by year and subgroup, but the facility-based design, changing attendance, and possible differences in screening and record completeness limit community-level inference.

Health Literacy and Educational Strategies for Promoting Proactive Personal and Community Health in Rivers State

Blessing Adeni Amakuro — 2026-10-12

Health literacy is an essential determinant of population health because it influences individuals’ and communities’ capacity to access, understand, evaluate, and apply health information for appropriate health decisions and preventive action. This paper examines health literacy and educational strategies for promoting proactive personal and community health in Rivers State, Nigeria. The conceptual foundation shows that health literacy extends beyond basic reading ability to include functional, interactive, critical, and digital competencies required for effective health decision-making. The current health context in Rivers State indicates persistent communicable diseases, maternal and child health concerns, emerging non-communicable disease risks, environmental challenges, and disparities in access to understandable health information and healthcare services. Major challenges include socioeconomic inequalities, cultural beliefs and misconceptions, language barriers, the digital divide and health misinformation, weak health communication systems, and policy and funding constraints. Proactive personal and community health is presented as a preventive approach involving healthy lifestyles, early detection, informed decision-making, appropriate healthcare utilization, community participation, sanitation, disease prevention, and collective health action. The paper identifies school-based health education, community health education, healthcare provider-led education, digital and social media interventions, faith-based and workplace programmes, and peer education and community engagement as complementary strategies for strengthening health literacy. The policy and practice implications emphasize shared responsibilities among government, educational institutions, healthcare professionals, NGOs, media organisations, and cProactive health behaviourommunity leaders. The paper concludes that sustainable improvement in health literacy in Rivers State requires coordinated, culturally responsive, accessible, and adequately funded interventions that transform health information into informed personal behaviour and collective community action.

Fathers in the Shadows: The Systemic Neglect of Paternal Mental Health in Perinatal Care

Mary Boniface — 2026-10-12

Paternal perinatal mental health is an emerging but often neglected aspect of family well-being. While maternal mental health has historically received substantial attention, fathers also face significant emotional and psychological challenges during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth. Despite this, healthcare systems, policies, and research remain predominantly mothercentred, leaving fathers invisible within perinatal care. The paper argues that paternal mental health matters because of its profound impact on maternal recovery, child development, family stability, and wider social outcomes. Yet systemic neglect reflected in healthcare guidelines, policy gaps, research bias, and clinical practices perpetuates fathers’ exclusion. Cultural and structural barriers, including stigma tied to masculinity norms, limited involvement of fathers in perinatal care, low provider awareness, and weak health infrastructure, further constrain recognition and support. To address these gaps, the paper makes a case for family-centred perinatal care in Nigeria. This includes screening fathers alongside mothers, training health workers to engage men, designing culturally inclusive interventions, and embedding paternal mental health into national health policies. A call to action emphasizes the role of health education in policy reform, clinical practice, future research, and community-level change to bring fathers out of the shadows. In conclusion, the paper emphasises that promoting paternal mental health is not optional but a public health imperative. Among others, it was recommended that government and policy makers should integrate paternal perinatal mental health into Nigeria’s national reproductive and maternal health policies by mandating screening and support services for fathers alongside mothers in all healthcare facilities.

Safety Practices among Quarry Workers in Izzi Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Nwamaka Agbe. Elom — 2026-10-12

Quarry industries have been recognized as one of the workplaces with the highest rates of workrelated illnesses and injuries among all the occupational categories globally. Workers are exposed to potential hazards like inhaling of dust and they are prone to accidents such as burns, finger cuts, fractures, nose bleeds, fainting, shocks, scalds, gassing, and suffocation.The study assessed safety practices among quarry workers in Izzi Local Government Area (LGA), Ebonyi State. Three research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted. The population of this study comprised all the 274 quarry workers in Izzi LGA and all participated in the study. A self- developed Safety Practices Questionnaire (SPQ) was used for data collection.Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while t-test and One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistics were used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level.Results revealed that quarry workers in Izzi LGA had poor safety practices (2.11± 0.24). Male (2.08± 0.23) and female (2.15±0.25) quarry workers had poor safety practices. Quarry workers with noformal education (2.04± 0.24), Primary Education (2.11±0.28), Secondary Education (2.19±0.18) and Tertiary Education (2.16±0.19) in Izzi Local Government Area had low safety practices in Ebonyi State. Furthermore, when demographic variables were compared, there were significant differences in the level of safety practices among quarry workers in Izzi LGA, Ebonyi State based on gender (p=0.027) and education level (p= 0.002). The study concludes that safety practices among quarry workers were poor, necessitating improved occupational safety measures. Poor safety practices might lead to higher health issues. However, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with Health Educators should organize seminar/workshops for quarry workers to create awareness on occupational safety practices in quarry industries.

Menstrual Hygiene Awareness, Beliefs, and Attitudes towards Menstruation among Female Secondary School Students in Rural Communities of Udenu Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria

Ngozika Karen Enemuo — 2026-10-12

Menstrual hygiene awareness plays an important role in shaping adolescents 'beliefs and attitudes toward menstruation, particularly in rural communities where misconceptions and cultural taboos remain prevalent. The study assessed menstrual hygiene awareness, beliefs, and attitudes towards menstruation among female secondary school students in rural communities of Udenu Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria. The study was guided by the three specific objectives and three null hypotheses. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Population for the study comprised of 2,421 female secondary school students from the 16secondary schools in Udenu Local Government Area, Enugu State. The sample for the study was 369 female secondary school students, selected through simple random sampling technique. Aself- developed Menstrual Hygiene Awareness, Belief and Attitude toward Menstruation Questionnaire (MHABAMQ) was used for data collection. Data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, while Chi-square and t-test statistics were used to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that the respondents had a moderate level of menstrual hygiene awareness and a moderate level of negative beliefs regarding menstruation. The respondents demonstrated a positive attitude toward menstruation. There is no significant difference in the menstrual hygiene awareness possessed by female secondary school students in Udenu LGA, Enugu State based on class level, there is significant difference in the belief and attitude toward menstruation n possessed by female secondary school students in Udenu LGA, Enugu State based on class level, Hence, the study concludes that although the respondents demonstrated moderate menstrual hygiene awareness, positive attitudes, misconceptions and cultural beliefs surrounding menstruation persist among female secondary school students. The authors recommends among others that ministry of education, school authorities should strengthening school-based menstrual health education programmes to improve menstrual hygiene awareness, dispel misconceptions, and promote positive beliefs and attitudes toward menstruation.

Food Safety and Hygiene Practices among Food Vendors in Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Imo State Nigeria

Mary Ndubuisi Fidelis — 2026-10-12

This study investigated food safety and hygiene practices among food vendors in Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Imo State Nigeria. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. The population of the study consisted of all the 143 registered food vendors in Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri. An adapted instrument from similar past studies was used as the instrument for data collection. The instrument was distributed on face-to face basis to only 138 vendors who declared interest after their consent was sought and gained. All the 138 copies of the instrument were returned but only 135 well filled copies were used for the study. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistic of frequency and percentage while inferential statistics of chi-square was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The result revealed poor for safety and hygiene practices before food preparation and during preparation but moderate food safety and hygiene practices during food service among food vendors. The findings also revealed that education has an influence on food safety and hygiene practices among food vendors. It was recommended among others, that consultancy department in-charge of food business establishments within the institution should frequently supervise the hygienic condition under which food vendors operate during food preparation and serving. Also, that health educators should organize seminars and workshops periodically, to sanitize food vendors and the general public on the importance of food safety and hygiene practices in eradicating food borne illnesses.

Creating a Supportive Secondary School Environment for Mental Health Awareness for Sustainable wellbeing of Students

Joy-Telu Hamilton-Ekeke — 2026-10-12

Mental health refers to a person's emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health is more than the absence of mental disorders it also involves a person's ability to cope with life's stresses, to build and maintain relationships, and to live a fulfilling life. Mental health is a critical component of overall well-being, especially among adolescents who face numerous psychological, social, and academic pressures. Mental health awareness is essential for early identification and management of mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. In recent years, there has been growing recognition worldwide of the importance of mental health education and awareness, particularly in school settings where adolescents spend a significant portion of their time. In Nigeria, mental health issues often go unnoticed due to limited awareness and stigma surrounding mental illness. This lack of awareness may contribute to poor academic performance, social withdrawal, and increased vulnerability to risky behaviours. Understanding the level of mental health awareness across all ages is vital to informing policies, intervention programs, and educational curricula aimed at improving mental health outcomes. This paper x-rayed how supportive school environment can inculcate mental health awareness for the sustenance of health and wellbeing.The paper concluded that, the sustainable wellbeing of students depends on a holistic and compassionate approach that values mental health as much as academic success. In conclusion a supportive school environment serves as a protective factor that enhances students’ resilience and overall wellbeing. By promoting mental health awareness, ensuring access to support resources, and fostering a culture of empathy and inclusion, schools create conditions that enable students to achieve positive academic, social, and personal outcomes.

Prevalence and Association of Peer Pressure and Media Influence with Peer Victimization and Intervention Strategies among In-School Adolescents in Imo State, Nigeria

Akhere Ibhafidon — 2026-10-12

Peer victimization is an important adolescent public health concern associated with adverse psychological, social, and educational outcomes. Evidence from Imo State, Nigeria, remains limited. This study determined the prevalence of peer victimization, examined its associations with peer pressure and media influence and formulate intervention strategies among in-school adolescents in Imo State, Nigeria. The study population comprised 975,000 in-school adolescents in Imo State. A concurrent triangulation mixed methods approach was adopted. The sample size was 3,042, comprising 2,940 drawn through multi-stage sampling procedure for quantitative data collection, 72 drawn using convenience sampling for qualitative data collection, and 30 experts that indicated the developed strategies appropriate. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire incorporating the Multidimensional Peer-Victimization Scale, an 8-item Peer Pressure Questionnaire, and a 9-item Media Influence Scale, while In-depth Interview Guide was used for qualitative data collection. Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, chisquare tests, and multivariable logistic regression at 0.05 significance level. Results showed that peer victimization was reported by 2,022 (68.8%) respondents. Higher peer pressure and media influence were reported by 23.2% and 25.3% of respondents, respectively. Peer pressure was significantly associated with peer victimization at the bivariate level (p = .019). However, after adjustment, neither higher peer pressure (AOR = 1.072, p = .507) nor higher media influence (AOR = 0.845, p = .106) was significantly associated with peer victimization. Academic class, school type, school location, and parental income were independently associated with victimization. Peer victimization was highly prevalent among the surveyed adolescents. School authorities should implement targeted peer victimization prevention programmes for in-school adolescents to promote safer and more supportive school environments.