Predictors of Social Media use for Reproductive Health Seeking Behaviour among Students of Tertiary Institutions in Bauchi State, Nigeria
Keywords:
Bauchi, Reproductive Health, social-media, Social media, Bauchi.
Abstract
Background: Social media (SM) has emerged as a dominant communication platform. It encompasses interactive tools like social networking sites, blogs, and content-sharing platforms that allow user-generated content, distinguishing it from traditional media. This shift from a monologue to a dialogue-based model of information exchange presents new opportunities for health communication.
Objective: To assess the predictors, knowledge and strategies associated with the use of social media (SM) for accessing reproductive health (RH) information among tertiary institution students in Bauchi State, Nigeria.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 407 respondents. Data was Analysed using SPSS version 20.0, chi-square tests and logistic regression was used to identify predictors of SM use for RH information-seeking.
Results: The mean age of respondents was 23.60 ± 4.90 years, majority were male (64.1%). About 83.2% had good knowledge of using SM for RH information. Common RH topics sought included sex education (33.0%), abstinence from premarital sex (24.5%), and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (40.1%). Key barriers were poor internet connection (39.5%) and high cost (37.2%). The primary suggested strategy for enhancement was improved SM connection (45.4%). Logistic regression identified age group (AOR=5.47, 95% CI: 2.10-14.21) and type of institution (AOR=8.80, 95% CI: 2.00-38.73) as significant predictors of SM use for RH seeking behaviour.
Conclusion: Social media is a significant source of RH information for students. To maximize its potentials institutions should integrate digital literacy and SM-based RH education into their program
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2026-08-05
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