KNOWLEDGE

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.

This study was designed to assess the knowledge and attitude of secondary school students towards sexually transmitted diseases in Oredo Local Government Area . To guide this study, four research questions were raised. The study was a descriptive research which adopted the survey research design . The population of the study was 9900 secondary students. The sampling techniques used was Stratified random Sampling. The sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 100 respondents representing 2% of the total population of secondary students in the selected secondary schools. The questionnaire was validated by three experts and split - half method was used to establish reliability of which it's coefficient was 0.83 ascertaining the reliability of the questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using frequency count , percentages and pearson product moment correlation ( PPMC). The findings revealed that the students are knowledgeable to an extent about Sexually transmitted diseases And the attitude of the secondary school students towards STDs is not encouraging. Sources of information on sexually transmitted disease from the parents, school, social media etc. The various risk factors of sexually transmitted diseases includes adolescents been made vulnerable at most, it can lead to infertility in both males and females etc. The types of STDs, signs and symptoms, prevention and treatment of STDs. It was recommended that efforts should be made by parents, guardians to educate their children about sexually transmitted diseases, it should not be left only in the hands of school alone. And also the school‘s responsibility is to educate the students about the risk factors of sexually transmitted diseases, the consequences of increased sex partners. Abstinence should be talked about especially by a health teacher or an invited health personnel.

Despite the availability and effectiveness of vasectomy as a permanent method of male contraception, its acceptance remains low in many developing countries, including Nigeria. Misconceptions, cultural norms, and religious beliefs significantly hinder its uptake. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and acceptance of vasectomy among male staff at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 278 male staff across different departments of UBTH. Data were collected using a structured, pretested questionnaire and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to interpret the results. The study revealed that only 41% of respondents had good knowledge of vasectomy, with a
grand mean score of 1.4, indicating a generally poor understanding. Attitudes were predominantly negative, with 56% expressing unfavourable views and a mean attitude score of 2.1. Acceptance of vasectomy was also low, as only 38% indicated willingness to consider the procedure. Cultural and religious beliefs, fear of complications, perceived threats to masculinity, and misinformation about the procedure were identified as major barriers to acceptance. Despite working in a healthcare setting, many respondents held misconceptions about vasectomy’s effects on sexual performance and health. The study found poor knowledge, negative attitudes, and low acceptance of vasectomy among male staff at UBTH. These findings underscore the persistence of cultural, religious, and psychological barriers even within educated, medically-inclined populations. Targeted health education interventions are urgently needed to dispel myths, address cultural concerns, and promote accurate information about vasectomy among healthcare workers. Empowering male staff with correct knowledge could enhance their role as advocates for male involvement in family planning.

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) refers to the practice of feeding infants only breast milk for the first six months of life, without introducing any other liquids or solids, except for oral rehydration solutions, drops, syrups (vitamins, minerals, or medicines) as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). This
practice is recognized globally as one of the most effective strategies for reducing infant morbidity and mortality, especially in low- and middle-income countries (Wu et al., 2022). EBF not only provides essential nutrients for infant growth and development but also protects against common childhood illnesses such as diarrhea and pneumonia, thereby promoting
overall child survival and development (Gebeyehu et al., 2023; WHO, 2020, as cited in Wu et al., 2022). Despite strong global advocacy, the rates of EBF rmain suboptimal in many regions, including sub-Saharan Africa. According to Ejie et al. (2021), barriers to EBF in African countries include socio-cultural beliefs, inadequate maternal knowledge, limited support from health professionals, and economic pressures. In Nigeria, EBF is a significant public health concern. The 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) reported that only 29% of infants under six months were exclusively breastfed, which is far below the WHO's global target of at least 50% by 2025 (Okoroiwu et al., 2021). This statistic highlights a significant gap between policy recommendations and actual maternal practices

Mindfulness meditation, recognized globally as an evidence-based intervention, promotes self-awareness, stress reduction, and emotional regulation. This study assessed the knowledge and practice of mindfulness meditation among undergraduate nursing students at the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State. It specifically examined students’ level of awareness, extent of practice, commonly used mindfulness techniques, and factors influencing mindfulness engagement. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted, involving 312 nursing students selected from a total population of 983 across all academic levels using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through a validated structured questionnaire and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Descriptive statistics summarized respondents’ knowledge and practice levels, while Spearman’s rho correlation tested the relationship between the two variables at a significance level of p < 0.05. Findings revealed that most respondents possessed moderate knowledge of mindfulness meditation but demonstrated low levels of regular practice. The most common methods used were mindful breathing and body scanning. Barriers identified
included lack of time, inadequate institutional support, and limited access to trained facilitators, while facilitators included positive attitudes and peer encouragement. Statistical analysis indicated a weak but positive correlation between knowledge and practice of mindfulness meditation among students. The study concludes that although nursing students are aware of mindfulness and its benefits, its practical application remains limited. Integrating mindfulness-based programs into the nursing curriculum is recommended to enhance students’ emotional resilience, stress management, and overall mental well-being. Strengthened institutional support and increased awareness can promote a more consistent mindfulness culture

Food hygiene is a major public health concern in tertiary academic institutions where a large population depends on food vendors for daily meals. Poor food hygiene practices may expose consumers to foodborne diseases despite vendors’ awareness of hygiene principles. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice of food hygiene among food vendors in a tertiary academic institution in Edo State. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted for the study. A convenience sampling technique was used to select 250 food vendors. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, practice, and factors influencing food hygiene practices. Out of 250 questionnaires distributed, 243 were properly completed and analyzed, giving a response rate of 97.2%. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27.0. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used at a 5% level of significance. Findings revealed that 53% (128) of the respondents had good knowledge of food hygiene, while 47% (115) had poor knowledge, with a grand mean score of 1.5, indicating overall good knowledge. Attitude toward food hygiene was generally positive, as 63% (153) of the vendors demonstrated positive attitudes, with a grand mean of 2.8. However, food hygiene practices were largely inadequate, as only 41% (99) exhibited good practices, while 59% (144) practiced poor food hygiene, with a low grand mean score of 2.4. Key factors influencing food hygiene practices included access to clean water, level of education, waste disposal facilities, training, financial constraints, regular inspection, and institutional support, with a grand mean of 3.0. Hypothesis testing showed no significant relationship between knowledge and food hygiene practice (χ² = 9.786, p = 0.092) and no significant relationship between attitude and food hygiene practice (χ² = 6.876, p = 0.089). Despite good knowledge and positive attitudes toward food hygiene, food vendors demonstrated poor hygiene practices, indicating a significant knowledge–practice gap. Regular training, improved access to water and sanitation facilities, routine health inspections, and institutional support are recommended to enhance food hygiene practices among food vendors in tertiary institutions.

Despite the availability and effectiveness of vasectomy as a permanent method of male contraception, its acceptance remains low in many developing countries, including Nigeria. Misconceptions, cultural norms, and religious beliefs significantly hinder its uptake. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and acceptance of vasectomy among male staff at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 278 male staff across different departments of UBTH. Data were collected using a structured, pretested questionnaire and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to interpret the results. The study revealed that only 41% of respondents had good knowledge of vasectomy, with a grand mean score of 1.4, indicating a generally poor understanding. Attitudes were predominantly negative, with 56% expressing unfavourable views and a mean attitude score of 2.1. Acceptance of vasectomy was also low, as only 38% indicated willingness to consider the procedure. Cultural and religious beliefs, fear of complications, perceived threats to masculinity, and misinformation about the procedure were identified as major barriers to acceptance. Despite working in a healthcare setting, many respondents held misconceptions about vasectomy’s effects on sexual performance and health. The study found poor knowledge, negative attitudes, and low acceptance of vasectomy among male staff at UBTH. These findings underscore the persistence of cultural, religious, and psychological barriers even within educated, medically-inclined populations. Targeted health education interventions are urgently needed to dispel myths, address cultural concerns, and promote accurate information about vasectomy among healthcare workers. Empowering male staff with correct knowledge could enhance their role as advocates for male involvement in family planning

Cervical cancer remains a major public health challenge, particularly in developing countries where awareness, screening, and prevention are inadequate. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and factors influencing the utilization of cervical cancer screening services among female non-academic staff at the University of Benin, Benin City. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted, and data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire from 90 respondents selected through total enumeration. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including chi- square tests at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that while most respondents (86.7%) had heard of cervical cancer, knowledge about specific risk factors such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and recommended screening intervals was limited. Although the majority demonstrated positive attitudes toward screening (mean = 3.52), actual utilization was low, with only 31.1% having ever undergone screening. Major barriers identified included lack of awareness, financial constraints, fear of the screening procedure, and distance to healthcare centers. A significant relationship was found between awareness and screening utilization (p = 0.001) as well as between attitude and utilization (p = 0.003). The study concludes that despite relatively high awareness, inadequate knowledge and prevailing barriers hinder effective screening uptake. It recommends intensified health education, workplace-based screening programs, policy support, and subsidized services to enhance cervical cancer prevention among women in tertiary institutions.

This study was carried out to examine the impact of low cost of environmental materials on the knowledge and attitudes of Students towards the proper solid waste disposal. Two research questions and two hypotheses were raised and analyzed for the purpose of the study. A purposive sampling technique was used in selection of fifty (50) undergraduate students which were drawn from 100 level students of the Departments of Health, Safety and Environmental Education (HSE) and in the Faculty of Education, University of Benin for the purpose of the study. The data were collected with questionnaire instrument and analyzed using mean and standard deviation. It was revealed that students from the experimental group who were exposed to low cost of environmental materials have good attitude towards proper solid waste disposal compared to students in the control group who were not exposed to these materials. The difference in their attitudes was significant, based on the data from the findings of this study. It was also revealed through further findings of this study that students from the experimental group who through the use of low cost environmental materials had knowledge about proper solid waste disposal among undergraduates compared to students in the control group who were not exposed to the materials. Only few of the students in the control group had a little knowledge about proper solid waste disposal. More findings of this study indicated that use of low cost environmental materials has a significant impact in equipping students with knowledge about proper solid waste disposal and the importance of proper solid waste disposal.

This study investigates the level of awareness and knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among university students at the University of Benin, Nigeria. The primary purpose of this study is to examine the level of awareness and understanding of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among undergraduate students at the University of Benin in Nigeria. It aims to identify the sources of students' information, assess their knowledge of transmission, symptoms, prevention, and consequences, and explore the factors that influence their perceptions and behaviors regarding sexual health. The study is driven by the need to address gaps in sexual health education on campuses and to inform strategies for effective intervention. The research employs a descriptive survey design, utilizing self administered questionnaires to collect data from a representative sample of undergraduate students across various faculties and levels of study at the university. The questionnaire captures demographic information, knowledge about STIs, sources of information, and risky behaviors. The data is analyzed statistically to evaluate the relationship between variables such as age, gender, and sources of information, providing a comprehensive understanding of students’ sexual health awareness. The findings highlight considerable gaps in STI knowledge among students, with many possessing misconceptions and limited understanding of transmission and prevention methods. The study emphasizes the importance of implementing comprehensive sexual health education programs tailored to students’ needs, utilizing trusted sources of information. Recommendations include integrating sexual health education into the university curriculum, increasing awareness campaigns through appropriate channels, and fostering an environment that encourages open discussions about sexual health to curb STI prevalence and promote responsible behaviors among students.