ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH KNOWLEDGE AND PREVENTIVE PRACTICES AMONG ADULTS DURING PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
1 Dental Therapy Department, Shehu Idris College of Health Sciences and Technology, Makarfi, Kaduna State.
2 Kaduna State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Kaduna State
3 Department of Nursing Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria
* Corresponding author: aliyukhalid38@gmail.com
2 Kaduna State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Kaduna State
3 Department of Nursing Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria
* Corresponding author: aliyukhalid38@gmail.com
Abstract
The study assessed health knowledge and preventive practices among adults during public health
emergencies in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study examined adults' health knowledge during
public health emergencies, including Lassa fever, cholera, meningitis, and flooding, assessed their
preventive practices, and determined the influence of selected socio-demographic characteristics on
health knowledge. A descriptive research design was adopted, and data were collected from 396 adults
using a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of public health
emergencies, and preventive practices. The knowledge and preventive-practice items were measured
using a four-point Likert scale. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including mean and
standard deviation, while inferential statistics comprised Chi-square, independent t-test, and analysis of
variance (ANOVA), as appropriate. The findings showed that respondents had a generally high level of
knowledge of public health emergencies, with an aggregate mean score of 3.36 (SD = 0.65). Preventive
practices were also generally high, with an aggregate mean score of 3.16 (SD = 0.74). The findings
further indicated a significant relationship between knowledge of public health emergencies and
preventive practices among adults. Knowledge also varied significantly across selected socio
demographic characteristics, particularly age and educational attainment, while no significant difference
was observed based on gender. The findings suggest that adequate knowledge of public health
emergencies is important for promoting appropriate preventive practices among adults. The study
concludes that strengthening health education, risk communication, and community engagement can
improve public understanding and preventive behaviours during emergencies. It recommends the
development of sustained, culturally appropriate, accessible, and audience-specific health education
programmes, with particular attention to adults with lower levels of knowledge and educational
attainment, to strengthen preparedness and improve community response to public health emergencies in
Kaduna State.
Keywords
Health knowledge
preventive practices
public health emergencies
Lassa fever
cholera
meningitis
flooding
adults
Kaduna State
References
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How to Cite
KHALID, A., R., A., NABARA, A. U., & BELLO, U. A. . (2026). ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH KNOWLEDGE AND PREVENTIVE PRACTICES AMONG ADULTS DURING PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA. Global Journal of Health Related Researches, 8(1), 5-13. https://doi.org/10.67203/gjhrr.2026.m6hb250k
A. KHALID, A. R., A. U. NABARA, and U. A. . BELLO, "ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH KNOWLEDGE AND PREVENTIVE PRACTICES AMONG ADULTS DURING PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA," Global Journal of Health Related Researches, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 5-13, March 2026. doi: 10.67203/gjhrr.2026.m6hb250k