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Effect of Community Health Peer Educators on Knowledge of Available Health Services among Young Adults in Nigeria

Abstract

Knowledge of available health services is important for appropriate healthcare-seeking, timely access to treatment, effective use of preventive services, and improved navigation of the healthcare system among young adults. In Nigeria, young adults may have inadequate knowledge of available healthcare services because of limited health information, misconceptions, poor awareness of healthcare facilities, financial constraints, geographical barriers, and reliance on informal sources of health information. Community health peer educators can provide a potentially effective means of communicating information about available health services because they may share similar social backgrounds, experiences, and communication styles with the young adults they serve. Through peer-led discussions, health education, referrals, and community engagement, peer educators may improve awareness of primary healthcare, screening, sexual and reproductive health, mental health, vaccination, chronic disease prevention, and other available health services. Against this background, this study investigates the effect of community health peer educators on knowledge of available health services among young adults in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on Social Cognitive Theory, the Health Literacy Framework, and the Social Ecological Model. Social Cognitive Theory explains how young adults may acquire knowledge through peer modelling, observational learning, social interaction, reinforcement, and self-efficacy. The Health Literacy Framework emphasizes the ability to access, understand, evaluate, and apply health information when making healthcare decisions. The Social Ecological Model recognizes the influence of individual, interpersonal, community, organizational, and environmental factors on access to healthcare information and services. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how community health peer educators may influence knowledge of available health services among young adults in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative quasi-experimental or analytical cross-sectional research design. The study population will comprise young adults aged 18–35 years residing in selected communities across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select geopolitical zones, states, local government areas, communities, youth groups, and eligible participants. Community health peer educators will be assessed using indicators such as availability of trained peer educators, frequency of peer education sessions, duration of interactions, number of participants reached, health topics covered, peer educator training, communication methods, use of educational materials, referral activities, opportunities for questions and discussion, and follow-up activities. Knowledge of available health services will be assessed using indicators such as awareness of primary healthcare centres, hospitals, diagnostic services, pharmacies where appropriate, reproductive health services, mental health services, vaccination services, screening programmes, emergency services, community health programmes, locations of relevant facilities, operating hours, services provided, and appropriate referral pathways. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires, health-service knowledge assessment tools, peer education attendance registers, referral records, educational materials, and relevant community health programme documents. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize participants' characteristics, exposure to peer education, sources of health information, and knowledge scores. Inferential statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, t-tests, correlation analysis, and logistic or multiple regression analysis where appropriate, will be used to determine the effect of community health peer educators on knowledge of available health services. Where a quasi-experimental design is adopted, knowledge scores before and after exposure to peer education may be compared with those of a comparison group to determine changes associated with the intervention. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that community health peer educators have a significant positive effect on knowledge of available health services among young adults in Nigeria. Young adults exposed to structured peer education are expected to demonstrate greater knowledge of available healthcare facilities, services, service locations, and appropriate points of care than young adults without comparable exposure. Peer educators may make health information more relatable by using familiar language, examples, communication styles, and social networks. Regular peer interactions may also provide opportunities to correct misconceptions, answer questions, explain referral pathways, and encourage young adults to seek appropriate services when needed. Community-based peer educators may further improve access to information among young adults who are reluctant to approach formal healthcare providers. However, inadequate training, misinformation, limited supervision, poor referral networks, low participation, insufficient educational materials, and changes in available health services may reduce effectiveness. The study therefore expects well-trained, supervised, adequately supported, and accurately informed community health peer educators to contribute significantly to improved knowledge of available health services among young adults in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on peer health education, health-service awareness, healthcare navigation, health literacy, youth health, community health education, health promotion, and public health in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, state ministries of health, local government health authorities, primary healthcare centres, youth organizations, community health workers, health educators, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for improving young adults' awareness of available healthcare services. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for incorporating trained peer educators into community health programmes, strengthening peer educator training and supervision, developing accurate health-service information materials, improving referral networks, using youth-friendly communication approaches, and establishing regular community-based platforms for disseminating information about available healthcare services across Nigeria.

Keywords: Community health peer educators, health-service knowledge, available health services, young adults, peer health education, health literacy, healthcare navigation, community health, health promotion, Nigeria, public health.