Health Science Education and Students’ Awareness of Malaria Predisposing Factors in Owerri Education Zone I
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63561/fnas-jmse.v6i4.913Keywords:
Health Science Education, Malaria, Predisposing factorsAbstract
The role of health science education in creating awareness of malaria predisposing factors among secondary school students in Owerri Education Zone I of Imo State Nigeria was examined using survey design. A survey research design was adopted for the study. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. A sample size of 399 Health Science Education students was selected as the sample size in line with Taro Yamane formula and cluster random sampling technique. Rating scale titled “Health Science Education and Malaria Predisposing Factors Awareness Rating Scale” (HSEMPFARS) designed by the researcher was used for data collection. Using Cronbach alpha statistics, the HSEMPFARS' dependability coefficient was 0.86. Mean scores and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, and the one sample t-test and independent samples t-test were used to evaluate the hypothesis. Findings showed that exposure to health science education helps students to a high extent to be aware of malaria predisposing factors and preventive measures; no significant difference was observed in the responses of students on their awareness of predisposing factors based on gender. In light of these findings, the researcher recommended that Health science education instructors should be consistent in their teaching about malaria predisposing factors and awareness as this would help sustain continuous students’ awareness about the disease and that topics like malaria in health education should not be taught with special reference to a particular gender since both male and female students have similar levels of malaria predisposing factors awareness through health science education.
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