DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

This study investigated the knowledge and attitudes toward the prevention of HIV/AIDS among secondary school students in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State. The research adopted a descriptive survey design, with a population consisting of 13,330 students across 21 secondary schools. A representative sample was drawn, and a structured questionnaire served as the primary instrument for data collection. Data obtained were analyzed using frequency counts and percentages to address the stated research questions. Findings revealed that students demonstrated a high level of knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention. The majority exhibited positive attitudes toward preventive measures and engaged in responsible practices such as abstaining from risky behaviors and avoiding the sharing of sharp objects. Despite these
positive trends, certain misconceptions persisted, particularly concerning the belief that HIV/AIDS is curable with modern medicine. Additionally, a low rate of voluntary HIV testing was noted among respondents, indicating gaps in proactive health-seeking behavior. The study concluded that health education significantly influences students’ understanding, attitudes, and preventive practices towards HIV/AIDS. It recommended the continuous strengthening of HIV/AIDS education programs in schools, improved access to youth-friendly testing and counseling services, and enhanced involvement of parents and teachers in HIV awareness initiatives. Furthermore, the promotion of peer-led education and community-based awareness campaigns was suggested to sustain behavioral change and reduce the spread of HIV among adolescents.

This study examines the solid waste management practices in Sapele, the challenges hindering effective waste management, the role of the local government, and residents' attitudes toward waste disposal. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, allowing for data collection from a
representative sample without manipulation. The study population comprised residents aged 18 to 65 years who are directly involved in waste generation, collection, disposal, and management. A total of 490 respondents participated in the study, and data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire. The analysis was conducted using mean and standard deviation. Findings indicate that while waste collection services are available, unsustainable practices such as illegal dumping and open burning persist. A significant gap exists in waste segregation, recycling, and composting due to inadequate public awareness, poor infrastructure, and weak enforcement of waste regulations. The local government plays a vital role in waste management; however, challenges such as insufficient waste bins, ineffective penalties, and limited funding hinder progress. Despite these challenges, residents exhibit a positive attitude toward waste management, recognizing its importance and expressing willingness to participate in community clean-up efforts and pay for waste
collection services. The study recommends a multi-faceted approach to improving waste management in Sapele, including increased investment in infrastructure, stricter enforcement of waste disposal regulations, expansion of recycling programs, and intensified public awareness campaigns. Strengthening collaboration between government agencies, private waste management firms, and local communities is essential to developing a more sustainable and efficient waste management system. These findings have significant implications for environmental and safety education, highlighting the need for integrating waste management strategies into school curricula, fostering
community-based environmental programs, and promoting sustainable waste management practices for long-term environmental sustainability.

This study explores the influence of social media on the sexual behavior of university students, focusing on the unique context of the University of Benin. The proliferation of social media platforms has raised concerns about its potential impact on students' sexual behavior. Existing literature suggests that social media can expose individuals to sexual content, facilitate peer influence, and influence risky sexual behaviors. However, it also serves as a platform for sexual health education and discourse. The research employed a survey design, with data collected from 300 randomly selected undergraduate students across multiple faculties. The study found that social media does indeed exert a significant influence on students' sexual behavior, shaping their attitudes and perceptions of romantic relationships. It was observed that social media content can create pressure for conformity to certain behaviors and norms. Additionally, the study revealed that social media plays a complex role in shaping students' perceptions of risky sexual behaviors. While exposure to content can cultivate an appreciation for excitement and risk, students approach these portrayals with a degree of critical discernment. In terms of sexual health education, the research found that students do not primarily rely on social media for accurate information. However, they recognize its role in destigmatizing discussions about sexual health topics. In conclusion, this study highlights the multifaceted impact of social media on the sexual behavior, perceptions, and health education of university students. It underscores the need for targeted sexual health education campaigns, media literacy programs, safe online spaces for discussions, and stricter content regulation on social media platforms. Further research is recommended to explore the nuances of this relationship in greater dept.

The study investigated the knowledge of the influence of parent-adolescent communication on teenage pregnancy among undergraduates of university of Benin, Nigeria. The study had three objectives. The first objective was to find out how parents communicate sexual and reproductive information with adolescents and its influence on their behavior. The second objective was to assess the influence of parent-adolescent communication on sexual and reproductive behavior. Lastly the study was to identify the challenges of parent-adolescent communication and their influence on sexual and reproductive behavior. The target population of this study comprised students in the university. Simple Random sampling technique was used to select the students and adolescents who participated in the study. Quantitative data was collected from respondents through the survey method using a questionnaire. It was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study found out that 50.7%, of the adolescents were exposed to sex education while 32.3% of the parents had exposed their children to sex education.
Parent-adolescent communication on sex issues occurred at the point where the adolescents had enrolled to institutions of learning. Parent-adolescent communication on sex issues was found to occur regularly as thirty-nine percent of adolescents received sex education monthly, twelve percent received sex education weekly however nine percent never received sex education. On the other hand twenty four percent of parents give sex education monthly, nine percent gives sex education weekly but nine percent never give sex education. A slight variance was found to exist on the awareness about adolescent‘s sexual activeness between household heads and the adolescents.

This study was designed to examine the examine the perception and factors influencing the utilization of healthcare Services among students of the University of Benin, Edo State. To guide this study, three research questions were raised. The survey research design was used in conducting the study. The main instrument employed to carry out this study was a self-structured questionnaire. The population of the study was 240. The validity of the instrument was established by giving it to the supervisor and two other experts in the field of the research study. The reliability of the instrument was established using the test-retest method of reliability which yielded a Coefficient of 0.780. The data obtained from the questionnaires were subjected to analysis using frequency counts and percentages. Results from the study from 240 respondents showed that that the perceptions of the utilization of healthcare services among students of the University of Benin includes; doubts about the equipment available in the healthcare facilities, doctors being unpleasant and unfriendly, inadequate staffs in the health centers and the scare of going to the health care centers due to the stories heard about the negligence of the doctors and nurses, also it revealed that certain factors influence the utilization of healthcare services among students of the University of Benin. These factors includes; the availability of the doctors, lengthy cue at the health center, poor quality of treatment receive from previous visits and lack of drugs. At the end of the study, it was recommended that adequate provision of healthcare personnels should be provided to reduce the cue at the health facilities, drugs should be provided for easy reach to reduce the reluctance in going to the pharmacy to buy drugs after being prescribed at the health facility, the school healthcare providers should be friendly, medical appointments should be scheduled for students in order to cater and attend to students properly and students should be guided properly in order to see the need to take control and management of their health.

This study was conducted to find out the influence of knowledge on family planning Practices among women of child bearing age in Ovia North L.G.A, Edo State. To therefore achieve the purpose of the study, five (5) research questions guided the study
A descriptive survey design was used for the study. The sample size for the study was hundred (100) students. The Research instrument was a self-structured questionnaire with Section A, B and C Section A seeks to elicit responses on the socio-emographic
character of respondents, while Section B seeks to elicit responses on the level of knowledge about family planning among women of childbearing age, and Section C elicits diverse family planning practices among women of child bearing age. The
instrument was validated by the researcher's supervisor and two experts in the Department of Health, Safety and Environmental Education (H.S.E.), Faculty of Education. To determine the reliability of the instrument, the internal consistency reliability was adopted. In this vein, twenty (20) copies of the instrument were administered to the respondents who were not part of the target population. Based on the findings, it was concluded that A significant number of women in Ovia North Local Government Area have heard of family planning. While condom use is common, the use of modern contraceptives such as pills, injectables, or IUDs is relatively low. Many women have received family planning services from health facilities, although access is not universal. A considerable proportion of women have discontinued a family planning method due to side effects, indicating a need for better counseling and support for women using contraceptive methods, ensuring they are informed about potential side effects and how to manage them, thereby improving access to family planning services and enhancing the overall awareness of the health benefits of family planning. These efforts are crucial in ensuring better reproductive health outcomes and empowering women to make informed decisions about their family planning choices.

This study investigated the impact of place-based learning (PBL) on the knowledge and attitudes of students toward fire safety in the University of Benin. The research employed a quasi-experimental design involving two groups: an experimental group exposed to place-based learning and a control group that received traditional instruction. A structured questionnaire was used to assess students’ knowledge and attitudes toward fire safety before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests, including independent sample t-tests. Findings revealed a statistically significant improvement in the knowledge scores of students in the experimental group compared to their counterparts in the control group, indicating that PBL positively influences students’ understanding of fire safety concepts. However, no statistically significant difference was observed in the attitude scores between the two groups, suggesting that the PBL intervention did not have a measurable effect on students’ attitudes within the study’s timeframe. The study concludes that while place-based learning is an effective method for enhancing students’ knowledge of fire safety, more sustained or emotionally engaging interventions may be required to bring about meaningful changes in attitudes. It is recommended that fire safety education in higher institutions integrate experiential and context-specific learning strategies to foster both cognitive and behavioral development in students.

This study dealt on the Analyzing the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Substance Abuse Among Youths in Ekosodin, Benin City. To achieve the purpose of the study, four research questions were raised and examined. The sample size comprised of the 60 youths who live in Ekosodin. The questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. With the aid a simple random technique was used to select 20 people from Edo street 15 from JB 12 from Market road 13 from Primary school making it a total of 60 respondents. An analysis of data was done using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The findings showed that high prevalence and risk factor of drug abuse amongst youths in Ekosodin. It was also concluded that the female population tend to abuse drugs more and face some risk attached to the abuse of that drug. It was therefore recommended that youths should make intentional effort to stop or avoid the abuse of drugs and parents should engage their children to understand what they are going through.

This study investigated the impact of social media on body image and selfesteem among
adolescents. A descriptive survey research design was adopted to enable systematic collection of information from adolescents within their everyday environment. The target population comprised students aged 13–19 years from selected secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area. Using a simple random sampling method, 150 respondents were selected for participation. Data were collected using a structured instrument developed by the researcher, which included sections on demographic data, types and frequency of social media use, perceived body image, measures of self-esteem, and coping mechanisms adopted by adolescents. To establish content validity, the draft instrument was critically reviewed by the project supervisor and two specialists in the Department of Health, Safety and Environmental Education; their recommendations were incorporated prior to final administration. The reliability of the questionnaire was tested using the test–retest technique, yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.79, which indicates acceptable consistency for the measures employed. The researcher personally administered all 150 copies of the questionnaire with assistance, and all were retrieved and used for analysis. Collected data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis such as frequency counts, percentages, means, and standard deviations to sum Findings from the study revealed that social media greatly influences how adolescents in
secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area perceive their bodies. It makes them more conscious of their appearance and promotes unrealistic beauty standards. The study also found that adolescents feel more confident after receiving many likes and comments on their social media posts and feel bad when they get fewer likes than expected. Furthermore, fashion and beauty posts, celebrity lifestyles, and friends’ photos were identified as the most influential social media contents among adolescents. Instagram and TikTok were found to be the most engaging platforms, while chatting with friends and watching videos were the most common social media activities. The study also showed that most adolescents adopt positive coping mechanisms such as avoiding insecure accounts, reducing social media use, and following body positivity pages, while only a few engage in harmful behaviors such as skipping meals or
avoiding social activities because of social media pressure. Based on these findings, it was concluded that social media has a strong influence on adolescents’ perception of body image and self-esteem. Although it can enhance confidence and social connection, it can also create pressure and unrealistic standards that affect adolescents’ mental and emotional well-being. The study therefore recommends proper guidance and education on healthy social media use among adolescents to promote a positive sense of self and body acceptance.

The study was conducted to find out the Factors resulting to Pollution in halls of
Residence among the Recipients in University of Benin. Five research questions were
raised and analyzed for the purpose of the study. Two hundred (200) respondents which
were randomly selected from five (5) faculties through simple random techniques from
the fourteen (14) Faculties in the University of Benin. The data were collected with
questionnaire instrument and analyzed. The result revealed that: Indiscriminate urination is a reason adduced for air pollution by
students in halls of residence because of the poor state of hostel facilities in the
University of Benin, Indiscriminate dumping of food waste, human waste and other
perishables are reasons adduced for air pollution by students in halls of residences. It was
also observed that the poor drainage system in the halls of residence is a major cause of
air pollution, as most of the drainages are unsafe to use, Irregular supply of water to halls
of residence for cleanup and other activities, contributes to air pollution, Overpopulation
in the halls of residence, contributes to air population. Based on the results, it was recommended that: The University management should provide adequate facilities and equipment for the disposal of wastes and Information on how to use toilet equipment and other facilities should be included in the students’ handbook so as to educate them on the proper usage, Regular water supply should be provided through the use of the water supply systems such as a borehole, deep well and vii so on, adequate and qualified personnel should be recruited to carry out the thorough cleaning of the drainages in the hostels, Accommodation in the halls of residence should be only for those that the bed spaces can accommodate, this would help to reduce overpopulation.
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