EFFECT OF GROUP COUNSELLING ON HEPATITIS AWARENESS AND PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN DONGA EDUCATION ZONE, TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

Dr.Usman Bakari;²Dr. Gemson, George Simon,³Dr. Gagare, Augustine Ayuba, ⁴Mrs. Shaki, Juliana Christopher, &⁵Idonukpo Nganya Zungyeri

ABSTRACT

The study investigated the Effects of Group Counselling on Hepatitis Awareness and Preventive Strategies among Secondary School Students in Donga Education Zone, Taraba State, Nigeria. Three specific objectives with corresponding research questions and one research hypothesis guided the study. Quasi-Experimental research design was used for this study. The population of the study consisted of 2,363 Senior Secondary School Students in Donga Education Zone. The sample size of the study was 84Senior Secondary School Students in Donga Education Zone. The researchers adopted a simple random sampling technique in selecting the sample size. An instrument titled “Hepatitis Awareness and Prevention Strategies Questionnaire” (HAPSQ) was developed by the researchers for the purpose of this study. HAPSQ comprising of 42 items was divided into three sections. Section “A” comprising of 2 items solicited respondents’ personal information such as age and gender. Sections “B” have 20 items and Sections “C” have 20 items that solicited information on Hepatitis awareness and preventive strategies. To ascertain the reliability of the instrument, a reliability coefficient of 0.73 was obtained. Data collected, were analyzed using descriptive statistics of means and standard deviations to answer the research questions, while an inferential statistics of Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used in testing the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The result of the findings revealed that there is significant effect of treatment among experimental group on Hepatitis prevention strategies against the control group, that group counselling is effective in creating preventive strategies among secondary school students. Based on the findings of the study, the study recommended few among others that Health education on risk factors and prevention of hepatitis B infections through awareness programs for all should be carried out at regular interval in our school in order to improve awareness of this disease among students. Effective referral systems for the care of hepatitis B infected patients should be established since most of the laboratory tests and treatment require experts.

Keywords: Group Counselling, Hepatitis, Awareness, Preventive Strategies.