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Effect of Fibroid Health Education on Fibroid Prevention Practices among Women of Reproductive Age in Nigeria

Abstract

Uterine fibroids are common benign tumours of the uterus that affect many women of reproductive age and may be associated with heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain or pressure, anaemia, reproductive difficulties, and reduced quality of life. Although the exact causes of fibroids are not fully understood, several factors have been associated with their development and progression, including hormonal influences, family history, age, obesity, and other reproductive and metabolic factors. Limited knowledge about fibroids, their associated risk factors, symptoms, and appropriate preventive or risk-reduction measures may affect women's ability to make informed health decisions. In Nigeria, misconceptions, cultural beliefs, misinformation, limited access to reliable women's health information, and delayed healthcare-seeking may further contribute to inadequate preventive practices. Fibroid health education provides an opportunity to improve women's knowledge of the condition, associated risk factors, healthy lifestyle practices, symptom recognition, and the importance of timely professional evaluation. Against this background, this study investigates the effect of fibroid health education on fibroid prevention practices among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, and Theory of Planned Behavior. The Health Belief Model explains how women's perceptions of susceptibility to fibroids, perceived severity of complications, perceived benefits of preventive practices, perceived barriers, and cues to action may influence their health behaviours. Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes knowledge, self-efficacy, behavioural reinforcement, observational learning, social support, and environmental influences in the adoption and maintenance of healthy practices. The Theory of Planned Behavior explains how attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and behavioural intentions may influence women's adoption of recommended health practices. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how fibroid health education may influence fibroid prevention practices among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative quasi-experimental or analytical cross-sectional research design. The study population will comprise women of reproductive age residing in selected communities and attending healthcare facilities, women's health programmes, workplaces, educational institutions, and other relevant settings across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select states, local government areas, communities, healthcare facilities, and eligible women. Fibroid health education will be assessed using indicators such as exposure to structured educational sessions, frequency and duration of education, information on fibroid risk factors, symptoms, possible complications, healthy lifestyle practices, weight management, physical activity, dietary practices, reproductive health, appropriate healthcare-seeking, and the importance of professional evaluation. Fibroid prevention practices will be assessed using indicators such as maintenance of healthy body weight, regular physical activity, healthy dietary practices, appropriate management of reproductive and menstrual health concerns, avoidance of harmful self-medication, participation in recommended health assessments, early reporting of concerning symptoms, and timely utilization of professional healthcare services. Because no single lifestyle practice can guarantee prevention of fibroids, the study will focus on evidence-informed risk-reduction and early-detection practices rather than claiming that specific behaviours completely prevent fibroid development. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires and appropriate health-practice assessment instruments. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize participants' characteristics, exposure to fibroid health education, and patterns of prevention practices. 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 fibroid health education on prevention practices. Where a quasi-experimental design is adopted, prevention-practice scores before and after the educational intervention will be compared 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 fibroid health education has a significant positive effect on fibroid prevention and risk-reduction practices among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. Women exposed to structured and evidence-based fibroid health education are expected to demonstrate improved healthy lifestyle behaviours, greater awareness of relevant risk factors, improved recognition of concerning symptoms, and increased likelihood of seeking appropriate healthcare when symptoms occur. Education may correct misconceptions about fibroids, improve women's confidence in making informed health decisions, and encourage timely professional assessment rather than reliance on unverified remedies or delayed treatment. However, financial constraints, cultural beliefs, misinformation, limited access to healthcare services, competing responsibilities, inadequate health literacy, and misconceptions about the causes and prevention of fibroids may limit the effectiveness of educational interventions. The study therefore expects accessible, culturally appropriate, evidence-based, and continuously reinforced fibroid health education to contribute significantly to improved risk-reduction and early-detection practices among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on fibroid health education, uterine fibroids, prevention and risk reduction, women's reproductive health, health promotion, patient education, early detection, healthy lifestyle practices, 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, hospitals, primary healthcare centres, healthcare providers, women's health organizations, community health workers, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for improving awareness and risk-reduction practices related to uterine fibroids. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for integrating fibroid health education into women's health and primary healthcare programmes, developing culturally appropriate educational materials, strengthening community-based reproductive health education, improving healthcare-provider communication, promoting healthy lifestyle practices, encouraging timely evaluation of concerning symptoms, and reducing misconceptions surrounding uterine fibroids among women of reproductive age across Nigeria.

Keywords: Fibroid health education, uterine fibroids, fibroid prevention practices, risk reduction, women of reproductive age, women's reproductive health, health promotion, early detection, healthy lifestyle practices, patient education, Nigeria, public health.