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Effect of Health Education on Recognition of Human Trafficking Health Risks among University Students in Nigeria

Abstract

Human trafficking is a major public health and human rights concern that may expose individuals to physical injuries, sexual and reproductive health problems, infectious diseases, mental health difficulties, substance use, malnutrition, and other adverse health outcomes. University students in Nigeria may encounter trafficking risks through deceptive employment opportunities, online recruitment, exploitative relationships, educational or travel arrangements, and other forms of manipulation. However, limited awareness of trafficking indicators and associated health risks may reduce students' ability to recognize potentially dangerous situations or identify when someone may be experiencing exploitation. Health education provides an opportunity to improve students' understanding of human trafficking, its associated health consequences, warning signs, and appropriate sources of support. Against this background, this study investigates the effect of health education on recognition of human trafficking health risks among university students in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on the Health Belief Model, Social Ecological Model, and Social Cognitive Theory. The Health Belief Model explains how students' perceptions of susceptibility to trafficking-related health risks, perceived severity, perceived benefits of recognizing warning signs, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and cues to action may influence their knowledge and recognition of trafficking-related health risks. The Social Ecological Model emphasizes the influence of individual, interpersonal, community, institutional, digital, and broader societal factors on trafficking vulnerability and health-risk recognition. Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes observational learning, peer influence, self-efficacy, behavioural modelling, reinforcement, and environmental influences in shaping students' understanding and responses to trafficking-related risks. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how health education may influence recognition of human trafficking health risks among university students in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative quasi-experimental or analytical cross-sectional research design. The study population will comprise undergraduate and postgraduate students aged 18 years and above enrolled in selected public and private universities across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select geopolitical zones, states, universities, faculties or departments, levels of study, and eligible students. Health education will be assessed using indicators such as exposure to human-trafficking health education sessions, frequency and duration of education, information on trafficking and exploitation, physical health risks, sexual and reproductive health risks, infectious disease risks, psychological and mental health consequences, substance-use risks, injuries and occupational hazards, malnutrition, unsafe living conditions, coercion and violence, online recruitment risks, deceptive employment or travel opportunities, warning signs of exploitation, available support services, referral pathways, and reliable sources of information. Recognition of human trafficking health risks will be assessed using indicators such as students' ability to identify physical injuries, sexual and reproductive health risks, mental health consequences, infectious disease exposure, substance-use risks, malnutrition, signs of violence or coercion, unsafe working and living conditions, restricted freedom of movement, and other circumstances associated with trafficking-related health risks. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires, standardized human-trafficking health-risk knowledge assessment tools, scenario-based questions, and pre-test and post-test assessments where a quasi-experimental intervention is adopted. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize students' demographic and academic characteristics, previous exposure to trafficking information, sources of information, awareness of trafficking, and recognition of health risks. Inferential statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, paired and independent t-tests, correlation analysis, and logistic or multiple regression analysis where appropriate, will be used to determine the effect of health education on recognition of human trafficking health risks. Where a quasi-experimental design is adopted, recognition scores before and after the educational intervention 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 health education has a significant positive effect on recognition of human trafficking health risks among university students in Nigeria. Students exposed to structured, evidence-based, rights-based, and culturally sensitive health education are expected to demonstrate greater knowledge of trafficking-related health risks than students without comparable education. Education may improve students' ability to recognize physical, sexual and reproductive, infectious disease, mental health, substance-use, nutritional, and occupational health risks associated with trafficking and exploitation. It may also help students identify warning signs associated with coercion, violence, restricted freedom, deceptive recruitment, unsafe working conditions, and exploitative living arrangements. Scenario-based education may strengthen students' ability to distinguish legitimate opportunities from potentially exploitative situations without encouraging unsafe confrontation or placing individuals at greater risk. Education may also improve awareness of confidential and appropriate sources of professional and support services. However, stigma, fear, misinformation, limited knowledge of support systems, social-media exposure, economic pressures, and reluctance to discuss trafficking may reduce the effectiveness of education alone. The study therefore expects accessible, practical, trauma-informed, non-stigmatizing, and sustained health education, supported by appropriate referral and support systems, to contribute significantly to improved recognition of human trafficking health risks among university students in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on human trafficking, trafficking-related health risks, health education, university student health, violence prevention, sexual and reproductive health, mental health, health literacy, public health, human rights, and social protection in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Education, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, universities, university health centres, healthcare professionals, student organizations, public health practitioners, social workers, law-enforcement and protection agencies, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for improving awareness of trafficking-related health risks. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for integrating trafficking-related health education into university health programmes, strengthening awareness of deceptive recruitment and exploitation, improving students' ability to recognize health risks without increasing personal vulnerability, strengthening confidential referral and support systems, and developing sustainable health-education interventions that promote safer decision-making and early access to appropriate support among university students across Nigeria.

Keywords: Health education, human trafficking, trafficking-related health risks, recognition, university students, health literacy, violence prevention, sexual and reproductive health, mental health, public health, Nigeria.