| Abstract: |
The study examined the influence of community health communication on adolescents' self–medication in Ogbaru Local Government Area. The study was guided by the Health Belief Model and Social Cognitive Theory, which explain how individual perceptions and social learning processes influence health behavior. The specific objectives were to examine adolescents' exposure to community health communication, determine its effect on awareness of self –medication risks, assess its influence on attitudes, and ascertain its impact on self-medication practices. A survey research design was adopted. The population of the study consisted of approximately 69,000 adolescents aged 10-19 years, projected from the National Population Commission (NPC, 2006) data using 2025 population estimates. A sample size of 400 respondents was determined using the Taro Yamane formula, while 380 valid questionnaire were retrieved and analyzed. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using simple percentages and frequency tables. Findings revealed that 74.2% of respondents were exposed to community health communication, 71.1% reported improved awareness of self-medication risks, 76.6% experienced a positive attitude change, and 65.8% reported a reduction in self-medication practices. The study concluded that community health communication significantly influences adolescents' self-medication behavior, although behavioral change is not absolute due to environmental and social factors. The study recommended intensified community health communication programs, stronger school based health education, stricter regulation of drug access, and increased peer-led health education initiatives to sustain behavioral change among adolescents. |
