ERIC Number: EJ1291808
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2158-2440
EISSN: N/A
Assessment of Knowledge and Sources of Information on Lassa Fever Infection among the Undergraduate Students of Ebonyi State University, Nigeria
Umoke, MaryJoy; Umoke, Prince Christian Ifeanachor; Nwalieji, Chioma Adaora; Onwe, Rosemary N.; Nwafor, Ifeanyi Emmanuel; Agbaje, Samson Olaoluwa; Nwimo, Ignatius O.
SAGE Open, v11 n1 Jan-Mar 2021
Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease characterized by acute viral hemorrhagic fever, endemic in West Africa including Nigeria. The study assessed the knowledge and sources of information on Lassa fever infection among the undergraduate students of Ebonyi State University, Nigeria. This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted among a sample of 389 students (18 years above). A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed with SPSS (Version 20), and hypotheses were tested at p < 0.05 level of significance. Results showed that the majority of the students had good knowledge of Lassa fever description, 232 (60.75%); the signs and symptoms, 221 (57.9%); mode of transmission, 261 (68.41%); and preventive measures, 291 (76.13%). Radio, 23 (84.6%), and television, 307 (80.4%), were their major sources of information. Age (p = 0.424), sex (p = 0.082), and academic level (p = 0.553) were not significant in the study, while faculty (social sciences; p = 0.000*) was strongly associated with the knowledge of Lassa fever. In conclusion, the overall knowledge of Lassa fever was good among students, though knowledge gaps were observed in the signs and symptoms. We recommend that health education on endemic diseases in the state be made a compulsory course as a general study (GST) in the university. Also, the internet, social media, and campus campaign be further used to educate and sensitize students on the effect of Lassa fever.
Descriptors: Knowledge Level, Information Sources, Communicable Diseases, Disease Control, Prevention, Public Health, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Health Education, Undergraduate Students, Young Adults, Public Colleges, Student Characteristics, Majors (Students), Radio, Television, Mass Media Use, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Nigeria
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A