Effect of Peer Health Education on HIV/AIDS Awareness Among Undergraduate Students of University of Jos, Plateau State

The persistent spread of HIV/AIDS among young adults in Nigeria underscores the urgent need for targeted health education interventions at the tertiary level. This study investigated the effect of peer health education on HIV/AIDS awareness among undergraduate students of the University of Jos, Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design was adopted, involving 200 participants randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received a structured six-week peer-led health education programme, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using a validated HIV/AIDS Knowledge, Attitude and Practice questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests were used for analysis. Findings showed a statistically significant improvement in HIV/AIDS knowledge scores among participants in the experimental group (p less than 0.05), while no significant change was recorded in the control group. Attitudinal change toward HIV-positive individuals also improved markedly post-intervention. The study confirmed the effectiveness of peer-led health education as a low-cost, socially accepted approach to improving health awareness in university settings. Cultural sensitivity, trust among peers, and student-friendly language were identified as key facilitators of the programme's success. Recommendations include integrating peer health education into student union activities, student orientation programmes, and formal academic calendars in Nigerian universities. Keywords: peer health education, HIV/AIDS, awareness, undergraduate students, University of Jos