| Abstract: |
The study examined how community-based health information interventions are
effective in influencing youth attitudes towards substance use in Enugu State,
Nigeria. Based on the framework of the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), the study
examined the level of awareness of substance use among young people, the effect of
health information interventions to their behaviours, and the influence of
environmental factors that affect the attitudes towards substance use. The approach
used in this study is in-depth interviews (IDIs) among six strategically identi?ed
Local Government Areas (LGAs) involving health workers, community heads,
youth heads, and young people aged 18-40 years. The results showed that although
health information campaigns have enhanced awareness of substance use, its
effectiveness in changing the attitude is moderate. Awareness does not stop peer
pressure, unemployment, and lack of parental guidance, as well as the easy access to
drugs, which apparently all contribute to substance use. The inconsistency and
unpredictability with which health interventions are implemented has restricted
their effectiveness particularly in rural and out-of-school youths. The study
highlighted the fact that there is a need to maintain a continuous, culturally relevant
and inclusive health communication intervention that extend past knowledge
dissemination to address environmental cues, peer in?uence, and social learning
processes. It is recommended that family, school, and community interventions should be integrated to develop sustainable and practical approach to curbing youth
substance use in Enugu State.
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