School-based sensitization and toolkit distribution for prevention of non-communicable diseases among adolescent girls in northern nigeria.
1
MedForHer Health Initiative, Kano, Nigeria
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Non-communicable diseases (ncds) such as diabetes, sickle cell disease, and hypertension are leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally, with a growing burden in low- and middle-income countries including Nigeria. Adolescents, particularly girls in northern Nigeria, often have limited access to early health education, resulting in low awareness and delayed prevention practices. School-based sensitization, combined with locally conceptualized educational toolkits offer an effective platform for early ncd prevention and health promotion.¹,²
METHODS:
A school-based sensitization intervention was conducted on November 27 2025 at government girls arabic secondary school kawaji, kano state. The medforher initiative delivered a 3-hour interactive health education session to approximately 500 female secondary school students aged 12–18 years. The session covered common NCDS, risk factors, prevention strategies, and early detection methods, and included question-and-answer discussions. The team generated and distributed educational toolkits to all participants to reinforce learning. An informal pre- and post-session assessment was used to evaluate changes in knowledge and awareness.
RESULTS:
Post-intervention findings showed a 40–50% improvement in students’ knowledge of NCDS, including understanding of causes, preventive behaviors, and early detection. Approximately 85% of participants reported increased awareness and confidence in identifying common ncds such as diabetes and sickle cell disease. student engagement was high throughout the session, particularly during interactive discussions. Challenges included language barriers due to materials being primarily in english and limited availability of toolkits.
CONCLUSIONS:
The intervention demonstrated that school-based, interactive health education, supported by locally developed educational toolkits, can significantly improve awareness and knowledge of NCDS among adolescent girls in low-resource settings. Scaling similar interventions with culturally appropriate and locally translated materials may strengthen early NCD prevention efforts and empower adolescents as community health advocates in northern nigeria and comparable contexts.
Non-communicable diseases (ncds) such as diabetes, sickle cell disease, and hypertension are leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally, with a growing burden in low- and middle-income countries including Nigeria. Adolescents, particularly girls in northern Nigeria, often have limited access to early health education, resulting in low awareness and delayed prevention practices. School-based sensitization, combined with locally conceptualized educational toolkits offer an effective platform for early ncd prevention and health promotion.¹,²
METHODS:
A school-based sensitization intervention was conducted on November 27 2025 at government girls arabic secondary school kawaji, kano state. The medforher initiative delivered a 3-hour interactive health education session to approximately 500 female secondary school students aged 12–18 years. The session covered common NCDS, risk factors, prevention strategies, and early detection methods, and included question-and-answer discussions. The team generated and distributed educational toolkits to all participants to reinforce learning. An informal pre- and post-session assessment was used to evaluate changes in knowledge and awareness.
RESULTS:
Post-intervention findings showed a 40–50% improvement in students’ knowledge of NCDS, including understanding of causes, preventive behaviors, and early detection. Approximately 85% of participants reported increased awareness and confidence in identifying common ncds such as diabetes and sickle cell disease. student engagement was high throughout the session, particularly during interactive discussions. Challenges included language barriers due to materials being primarily in english and limited availability of toolkits.
CONCLUSIONS:
The intervention demonstrated that school-based, interactive health education, supported by locally developed educational toolkits, can significantly improve awareness and knowledge of NCDS among adolescent girls in low-resource settings. Scaling similar interventions with culturally appropriate and locally translated materials may strengthen early NCD prevention efforts and empower adolescents as community health advocates in northern nigeria and comparable contexts.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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