Effect of Community-based Nurse-led Education Intervention on Youth Knowledge of preventive practices towards HIV/AIDS in Igbotako in Okitipupa Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Health education according to World Health Organization is the most effective weapon against the transmission and spread of HIV/AIDS worldwide. This study examines the effect of community-level health education on the knowledge and attitude of youths in the Igbotako community towards HIV/AIDS prevention practices. Objectives: This is intending to assess the effect of health education counseling on the knowledge, prevention practices and attitude towards prevention practices among youths aged 15 to 29 years. Methods: Multi-stage sampling method was employed for the study. In the first stage, Okitipupa was selected at random. The second stage involved the purposeful sampling of the Igbotako community and in the third stage, 200 youths between the age of 15 and 29 were randomly selected, with consideration of education and professional background to avoid bias. Confidentiality was assured and respondents were administered with anonymous questionnaires before and after the health education seminars and the resulting data was analyzed with SPSS version 20. Results: Results showed that community health education significantly improves the awareness and knowledge of respondents about HIV/AIDS (χ2 = 398.63, p-value = 0.0043). The awareness about prevention practices of respondents statistically significantly improves after the health education seminars (χ2 = 208.22 p-value = 0.0219). Also, the attitude towards prevention practices statistically significantly improved as respondents became aware of the various risky behaviours and practices they do (χ2 = 318.71, p-value = 0.0182). Regression analysis showed that marital status i.e. being single (Z= 189.45, p-value= 0.048), gender i.e. being female (Z= 193.78, p-value= 0.021) and profession, being a student (Z= 123.93, p-value= 0.001). Conclusion: The study concludes that continuous community education through health talks, seminars and shows will positively reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS in the community.