Evaluation of a school-based health education program on hepatitis B virus infection prevention practice in rural South-Western, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection prevention is most effective early in childhood with vaccination programme. However, where this is missed, primary prevention modes of intervention become an alternative recommendation to be considered before the occurrence of risk exposure to the virus. This study sought to evaluate outcomes of a theory-based HBV infection prevention educational intervention among students from four selected secondary schools in Ogun state, Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: A quasi-experimental design enrolling 256 consenting secondary school students from four schools in Ogun state randomized into three intervention schools consisting teacher-instructed (E1), peer-directed (E2) and combination of the two (E3) respectively with a control group ( C) was implemented. The theory-based educational intervention was for six weeks with follow-up period of 8 weeks. A 66-item validated instrument was used to collect data at three reference points and response items for variables in the study were transformed into weighted-aggregate scores of mean and standard deviation of HBV infection prevention practice of participants. Statistical analysis of ANOVA, paired-sample t-test and Cohen's D Effect Size (ES) was used to quantify the changes produced by the intervention on the outcome variable at 5% level of significance. RESULTS: At baseline, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the mean HBV infection prevention practice scores between the four groups E1 (17.21 ± 3.03), E2 (15.57 ± 1.90), E3 (17.90 ± 3.10), and C (15.20 ± 2.44). However, at 14th week follow up, there was observed significant differences in mean scores of HBV infection prevention practices between all four groups E1 (23.09 ± 2.4), E2 (22.6 ± 3.6), E3 (23.82 ± 2.3), and C (15.25 ± 2.4). Paired-sample t-test conducted demonstrated significant differences between baseline and 14th week follow up for E1 (17.21 ± 3.07 and 23.18 ± 2.9; p = 0.001), E2(15.57 ± 1.90 and 23.53 ± 3.12; p = 0.001), E3(17.90 ± 3.10 and 25.1 ± 2.6; p < 0.001), but not for C (15.20 ± 2.44 and 15.25 ± 2.4; p = 0.92), with most significant impact (ES(95%CI) on HBV infection prevention practices observed for E2(3.106 95%CI: [2.66 to 3.55; p = 0.001]). Importantly, the participants in E2 showed more improvement in prevention practices than their counterparts from E1, E3, and control. Therefore, the intervention demonstrated proof-of-concept in facilitating behavior modification expected. Peer education can be utilized as a strategy to promote Hepatitis B infection prevention practices among adolescents.

Effect of a breastfeeding educational programme on fathers' intention to support exclusive breastfeeding: A quasi-experimental study.

Fathers' support towards exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is fast gaining recognition as a critical ingredient for successful EBF. This study examined the effect of a breastfeeding programme on fathers' intention to support EBF in Ikenne, LGA, Ogun State, Nigeria. This study adopted a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design. A total of 50 expectant fathers participated in the study. A theory-based questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 at p≤0.05. Results revealed a significant effect of the breastfeeding programme on intention (R2 = 0.839, R2adj = 0.837, F (1,70) = 364.337, p = 0.000). There was significant difference in intention between the post-experimental (x̄ = 6.587±0.948) and pre-control (x̄ = 5.444±1.473) groups at p-value = 0.025. A breastfeeding programme targeted at fathers had positive impact on intention towards EBF support. Government policies review is required to ensure the inclusion of fathers in maternal and child health service delivery.