EFFECTIVENESS OF HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMMES IN PREVENTING SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS

This study investigated the effectiveness of health education programmes in preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among youths. The objectives were to assess the level of awareness of STIs, examine the impact of health education on promoting safer sexual behaviors, and identify the challenges affecting the success of these programmes. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were collected using structured questionnaires administered to 200 respondents selected through simple random sampling. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, means, and standard deviation, as well as inferential statistics including Chi-square and t-test. The findings revealed a high level of awareness of sexually transmitted infections among the respondents, with health education programmes significantly enhancing knowledge, improving attitudes, and encouraging safer sexual practices such as condom use and regular STI testing. However, cultural and religious barriers, stigma, and limited access to youth-friendly services were identified as major challenges hindering the full effectiveness of the programmes. Statistical analysis indicated a significant relationship between participation in health education and increased awareness of STIs, while no significant gender difference was observed in the adoption of safer sexual behaviors. The study concluded that health education programmes are an effective tool for STI prevention among youths. It recommends the strengthening of comprehensive, culturally sensitive health education initiatives, greater community involvement, expanded use of media, and improved access to youth-friendly health services. The study suggests that future research should focus on comparative and longitudinal studies to further understand and enhance the impact of health education interventions on STI prevention.