IMPACT OF HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMMES ON KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, PRACTICES AND INCIDENCE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN TARABA STATE, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Attitudes, Health Education, Infectious Diseases, Incidence, Knowledge, PracticesAbstract
This study examined the Impact of Health Education Programmes on Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Incidence of Infectious Diseases in Taraba State, Nigeria. The focus of the study was to examine how health education impacts residents’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to health, as well as its effect on the occurrence of infectious diseases. To achieve this, a descriptive survey design was employed, drawing data from 300 adult participants across Wukari, Gassol, and Jalingo Local Government Areas through a multistage sampling process. Information was gathered using a well-structured questionnaire that had been tested for validity and reliability, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.85. Descriptive statistics, chi-square and regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that health education programmes significantly improved the knowledge, attitudes and practices of residents regarding disease prevention. The chi-square analysis (χ² = 42.317, p = .000) confirmed a significant association. Similarly, regression results (R² = 0.377, p = .000) showed that health education had a meaningful influence on reducing the incidence of infectious diseases. These results indicate that effective health education plays a critical role in promoting behavioral change and reducing disease burden in Taraba State. The study concludes that health education is essential for public health improvement. It recommends that health education programmes be strengthened and integrated into broader disease control strategies for long-term impact in the region.
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