DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

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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This study, titled “Factors Responsible for the Low Confidence in Primary Health Care Services Among Community Members in Oluku,” was conducted to assess the perceptions of residents regarding service quality, resource availability, staff behaviour, accessibility, and affordability of PHC services. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and targeted 24,523 residents of Oluku community. Using Taro Yamane’s formula, a sample of 394 respondents was selected. A structured questionnaire titled Community Confidence in Primary Health Care Services Questionnaire (CCPHCSQ) served as the main instrument for data collection. The instrument was validated by experts, and its reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of 0.82, indicating high reliability. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Findings revealed that respondents had a fair perception of service quality, inadequate availability of resources, positive staff behaviour, and good accessibility and affordability of services. The study concluded that low confidence in PHC services largely stems from resource inadequacy and operational inefficiencies. It
recommended improved resource provision, staff training, better management of service delivery time, and strengthened community engagement to enhance confidence and utilisation of PHC services in Oluku

This study assesses the knowledge of the effects of overcrowding among undergraduates of University of Benin. Three research questions were asked and answered during the study using frequencies and percentages. The survey research design was adopted for this study; this is because the data is collected from a sample population with specific characteristics.
The Population of the study will be 43,679 Students. It comprises of the 15 faculties of the University of Benin. The target population comprises of full-time undergraduate students of the various faculties during the 2024/2025. Out of this population two hundred and fourth (240) sample was selected from the total population using a multi-stage sampling procedure. This approach was used because it allows the researcher to reduce the large population into smaller, manageable units while ensuring fairness and inclusiveness. The instrument used to collect data for the study was fifteen items self-structured questionnaire. The instrument for the data collection was personally administered by the researcher to the respondents. The researcher explained to the respondents how to indicate their views on each item.
On the basis of the findings made in the study, the study concludes that undergraduate students at the University of Benin possess a relatively high level of knowledge of the effects of overcrowding, and this knowledge is informed by their direct experiences within the campus environment. The researcher recommends that university of Benin should prioritize the expansion of classroom blocks, lecture halls, and hostel facilities to accommodate the increasing student population and reduce overcrowding. Also, the researcher recommends that management should adopt strategies for more efficient utilization of existing facilities, such as flexible lecture schedules and the use of multipurpose spaces. Finally, adequate ventilation systems, sanitation facilities, and health awareness programs should be provided in hostels and classrooms to mitigate the health risks associated with overcrowding.

The study dealt on the knowledge and preventive practices of malaria among students in University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State. To achieve the purpose of the study, five research questions were raised and answered. The descriptive survey research method was adopted for the study. The population for this study was made of forty thousand two hundred and eighty-nine (40,289) undergraduates in the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State in the 2024/2025 academic session. The sample size for this study was 297 respondents. This was drawn using the multi stage sampling technique was adopted for the study. Firstly the systematic sampling technique was used to select five (5) faculties from the fifteen (15) faculties. Secondly proportionate sampling was used to select 3% from each selected faculty. Thirdly simple random sampling of balloting with replacement was used to select respondents for the study. The department names were written on a piece of paper, put in a hat, shuffled and then 5 departments were drawn from the hat. The selection process was random. The research instrument is a self-structured questionnaire. The instrument was validated by the researcher’s supervisor and two other experts in the Department of Health, Safety and Environmental Education. The Cronbanch Alpha method was used to determine the reliability of the instrument. The questionnaire was administered to a group of 20 respondents which were not part of the study. A Cronbach coefficient of .701 was obtained. This shows that the instrument is reliable. For data analysis, frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used to calculate the research findings. Findings from the study revealed that there is high level of knowledge among university of Benin students regarding malaria. The study concluded that the preventive practices adopted by University of Benin students to combat malaria include sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets, using mosquito repellents, wearing protective clothing such as long sleeves and trousers to reduce mosquito exposure, clearing bushes and stagnant water around their residences or hostels to prevent mosquito breeding, and participating in health campaigns or sensitization programmes on malaria prevention. The study recommended among others that the University of Benin management should intensify health education campaigns on malaria prevention through seminars, posters, and social media platforms to sustain and further improve students’ knowledge and awareness.

The purpose of the study was to find out the awareness and effectiveness of environmental education among undergraduates in the university of Benin. Further, four (4) research questions were raised and analyzed to guide this study. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study.The population comprised (44140) undergraduates students across all faculties at the University of Benin . A Simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 150 students from four faculties(Education(7416), Agriculture(1685), Physical Science(3283) and Engineering(5481) ) . A self structured questionnaire with two sections was used as the research instrument to collect data from the sample population. The validity of the instrument was confirmed by the supervisor and two other experts in the area of health safety and environmental education. The reliability of the instrument was tested using the testretest method. The questionnaire was administered via Google forms to facilitate data collection and a period of one week was used for distribute and collect of the questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency counts and percentage The findings of the study revealed that there is a high level of awareness but low effectiveness of environmental education among undergraduates in the university of Benin. While environmental issues is been known to high level of undergraduates in the university community, lack of interest among students reduces the impact of the programmes. It was also indicated in the study that poor funding or lack of resources reduces the success of environmental education programmes, the study, it also detected in the study that the altitude of lecturers or facilitators influences how much is learnt in environmental programmes. The researcher concludes that there is high level of awareness on environmental issues among students in the school community but low effectiveness and action of environmental programmes due to poor funding and lack of resources in environmental education programmes that will later lead lack of interest among students on issues that concerns the environment, some students are eager to adopt environmental practices, but poor funding and lack of resources reduces the success of environmental education programmes, and the content of current environmental education programmes are not made more practical and action based as it should be. The researcher also recommended that the content of current environmental education programmes should be made more practical and action based, and including reallife environmental case studies.

This study investigated knowledge and attitude of students towards environmental sustainability among students at the University of Benin, six research questions were raised to guide the study, two hypotheses were formulated. The purpose was to assess students’ level of knowledge, their attitudes, the factors influencing their engagement, the institutional challenges affecting sustainability practices, and their perceptions of the university’s role in promoting environmental awareness.
A descriptive survey design was adopted. The population comprised 39,037 undergraduate students in fourteen faculties, from which a sample of 383 respondents was drawn using a multi-stage sampling technique involving systematic, proportional, and purposive methods. Data were collected using a structured twenty-item questionnaire validated by experts, and reliability was determined using the test–retest method, which produced a coefficient of 0.78. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations were used to analyze the data, while hypotheses were tested using the t-test at the 0.05 level of significance. The study concludes that students of the University of Benin possess commendable knowledge and positive attitudes toward environmental sustainability, yet this awareness is not fully translated into consistent practice. It recommends that the university should integrate sustainability education into its General Studies curriculum, strengthen institutional frameworks, provide adequate infrastructure, and actively involve students in sustainability planning and implementation to promote a culture of environmental responsibility across disciplines.
Findings revealed that students demonstrated a generally high level of knowledge of environmental sustainability, particularly regarding responsible resource use, recycling, and conservation of energy and water. However, awareness of global sustainability frameworks such as the Paris Agreement was moderate. The results also showed that students held positive attitudes towards environmental sustainability, though their participation in practical activities such as organized recycling and campus clean-up programs was limited. Factors such as personal values, peer influence, and academic exposure were found to significantly shape engagement in sustainability practices, while institutional challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, weak policy enforcement, and insufficient sensitization programs limited students’ active involvement

This study investigated the impact of place-based learning (PBL) on water conservation practices among hostel residents at the University of Benin. Two research hypotheses guided the study, focusing on the effects of PBL on residents’ knowledge and attitudes toward water conservation. A quasi-experimental design was employed, involving 50 hostel residents selected through purposive sampling and divided equally into experimental (n=25) and control (n=25) groups. The experimental group participated in interactive PBL activities on water conservation, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using a self-structured
questionnaire measuring respondents’ knowledge and attitudes toward water conservation, validated for content and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha ≥ 0.70). Data were collected using a validated and reliable self-structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent samples t-tests. Findings revealed that PBL had a statistically significant positive effect on both knowledge and attitudes toward water conservation among the experimental group compared to the control group. The study concludes that PBL is an effective strategy for promoting water conservation awareness and fostering positive attitudes among students. It is recommended that PBL be integrated into university environmental education programs and supported through sustained
institutional interventions, community partnerships, and improved water management infrastructure

This study assesses the knowledge and attitude towards the use of eco-friendly menstrual products among female undergraduates in Benin City. Three research questions were raised to guide this study. The survey research design was adopted for this study; this is because the data was collected from a sample population with specific characteristics. The population of the study comprised 43,679 undergraduates from the University of
Benin. Out of this population, 273 students were selected as the sample, representing those who completed and returned the questionnaire. The instrument used to collect data for the study was a 15-item self-structured questionnaire. The instrument for the data collection was personally administered by the researcher to the respondents. The findings of this study concluded that female undergraduates at the University of Benin
have a good understanding of eco-friendly menstrual products and hold generally positive attitudes toward their use. However, these positive dispositions alone do not guarantee widespread adoption, as barriers such as limited availability, high cost, fear of infection, and socio-cultural norms hinder practical use. The study recommends that the university of Benin and relevant student bodies should promote awareness campaigns on eco-friendly menstrual products, highlighting proper usage, safety, hygiene, and environmental benefits. The study also recommends that efforts should be made to increase accessibility and affordability of eco-friendly menstrual products on campus through subsidized sales, partnerships with vendors, and student-led initiatives.

This study was carried out to ascertained the knowledge, attitudes and family planning behaviours of men in Oluku community Ovia North East LGA, Benin City. To guide the, five (5) research questions were raised and three (3) hypotheses were formulated. Relevant literatures related to the study were reviewed with maximum attention to the with the subject of interest. The study was a descriptive research which adopted a survey research design with the population of five thousand, two hundred and sixty (5,260.) men in Oluku community, while 263 respondents made up the sample size carefully selected using simple random sampling technique. A self- constructed questionnaire, whose reliability was determined using test-retest method, was validated by the supervisor and used to collect relevant data for the study. The data were further analyzed using simple percentage, frequency counts, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) and Chi-square statistical methods. The results were presented, interpreted and discussed by the researcher and findings were drawn. Following the findings, majority of the respondents (men in Oluku) have high knowledge of family planning. Furthermore, majority of the respondents had negative attitudes which were significantly related to their negative family planning behaviours. These were associated with low socio-economic status and religious factor which were proven to influence family planning behaviours of men. Hence, the researcher recommended that the government and relevant stakeholders should provide for functional institutions and health system which guarantees child survival and an improvement in the general level of education in the community as some men, especially in the rural areas, are scared of, and believe that non-use of family planning could help them to still have many children in case of child-mortality. This is key to enhancing knowledge, attitudes and family planning behaviours of men.