DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND COMMUNITYMEDICINE

Background: Learning Management Systems (LMS) have become vital tools for enhancing teaching, learning, and communication. Their importance in medical education is particularly significant, as they provide structured, flexible, and interactive platforms for managing the vast knowledge medical students must acquire. However, in Nigeria, challenges such as limited infrastructure, low digital literacy, and poor internet access have hindered widespread LMS adoption. Understanding medical students’ knowledge, perception, and willingness to use LMS is vital to improving integration into medical training. Objective: This study assessed the knowledge, perception, and willingness to use Learning Management Systems among medical students at the University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 410 medical students across levels 200-600, selected through stratified sampling. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire with sections on socio-demographics, knowledge, perception, willingness, and determinants of LMS acceptance. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Univariate analysis was performed for socio-demographics, bivariate analysis using chi-square tested associations between independent variables and outcomes, and logistic regression identified predictors of knowledge, perception, and willingness. Statistical significance was set at
p<0.05, with results presented in prose, tables, and charts. Results: Of the 410 respondents, 345 (84.1%) were aware of LMS, with Google Classroom(75.8%) and YouTube (58.4%) being the most commonly used platforms. Two-thirds of respondents demonstrated good knowledge, which was significantly associated with academic level (p<0.001). Attitudes were largely positive, with 82.4% agreeing that LMS improves academic performance and 75.1% stating that LMS creates a more interactive learning environment. Overall, 72.5% expressed willingness to adopt LMS for academic activities. Barriers identified included poor internet access (61.3%), inadequate training (48.9%), and high data costs (42.4%). Conclusion: Medical students at the University of Benin demonstrated high awareness, positive perceptions, and strong willingness to use LMS, though infrastructural and training challenges persist. Institutional support, improved internet access, and structured integration of LMSintothe medical curriculum are recommended to optimize its role in medical education. Keywords: Learning Management System; Knowledge; Perception; Willingness; Medical
Students, University of Benin, Nigeria

Background: Health beliefs and health-seeking behaviours are major determinants of women’s health outcomes, particularly in reproductive health. In Nigeria, women of reproductive age face multiple challenges, including cultural and religious norms, socioeconomic constraints, and limited access to quality healthcare, all of which delay or prevent timely care-seeking. These barriers contribute significantly to the country’s high maternal morbidity and mortality rates. Understanding how health beliefs shape health-seeking behaviour is therefore essential for improving women’s engagement
with formal healthcare services and reducing preventable complications. Objective: This study aimed to assess health beliefs, health-seeking behaviours and the influence of these health beliefs on the health-seeking behaviour of women of reproductive age in Oredo
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 2024 to 2025among 590 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Participants were selected using a multi-stage sampling method, and data were collected through a pre-tested, structured, interviewer- administered questionnaire that covered socio-demographic characteristics, health beliefs, and health-seeking behaviours. Data was analysed using IBMSPSS version26. Descriptive statistics summarised respondents’ characteristics, Chi-square tests assessed associations between variables, and multivariate logistic regression identified predictors of health beliefs and health-seeking behaviour. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: A majority of respondents 304 (51.5%) demonstrated positive health beliefs, with many perceiving their health as good or excellent. Educational status and
15 socioeconomic level were significantly associated with positive health beliefs (p<0.05). Overall, health-seeking behaviour was good, as most respondents, 398 (67.5) reported willingness to seek formal healthcare services. However, barriers such as Distance 94 (32.8%), financial constraints 86 (30.0%), long waiting time 109 (38.1), Religious factors 108 (37.8%) and lack of trust in healthcare systems 106 (37.1%) were noted. Health beliefs strongly shaped care-seeking behaviour, with some respondents substituting or delaying formal healthcare in favour of herbal remedies, cultural traditions, or religious practices. Conclusion: A majority of respondents demonstrated positive health beliefs, with good health-seeking behaviour. Most respondents preferred formal healthcare services;
however, barriers to proper healthcare utilization, such as cost, distance, poor staff
attitude, and long waiting times, were reported. Health beliefs strongly shaped care- seeking behaviour, with some respondents delaying or substituting formal healthcare in favour of alternative practices such as herbal medicines, faith-based healings and cultural practices. Keywords: Health beliefs, Health-seeking behaviour, Cultural practices, Women of reproductive age, Nigeria