Comprehensive Educational Investigation on the Perception of Biology Students on Dengue Fever at Colleges of Education in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aims: It investigated knowledge of dengue fever among biology students in college of education students in Enugu state. Methodology: A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 5773 biology students of colleges of education in Enugu state. The sample size of the study was 284 respondents using the Taro Yamani formula and simple random sampling techniques. The questionnaire was used for data collection. Results: Based on the analysis, the following major findings were made: the students know the five key research questions. From the findings, the following recommendations were made: The inclusion of dengue fever and its prevention and control should be promoted in school and in the College curriculum to raise awareness among students and use them as multipliers. There is an urgent need for massive awareness programs to raise the knowledge of both students and community people in Enugu State. For this social mobilization and communication programs could be developed. Such programs will be crucial to winning community support towards adopting effective measures for preventing dengue fever transmission, improving surveillance and healthcare-seeking behaviour, and better controlling outbreaks of dengue fever. Conclusion: The research concluded that Colleges of Education Students in Enugu State displayed a fair knowledge level of dengue fever, the majority of persons had a clear understanding of fever, headache, vomiting, and nausea as general signs and symptoms of dengue viral fever, a huge number of students exhibited vague opinion of other different signs and symptoms. The mosquito time biting and all the preventive measures in controlling dengue fever are not well known by the students.