Assessment of Health Education Practices in Faith-Based Organisations in Rivers State

Faith-based organisations play a significant and underutilised role in community health education in Nigeria, serving as trusted social institutions with extensive reach into underserved populations. This study assessed health education practices in selected faith-based organisations in Rivers State, South South Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted, with 160 religious leaders, health committee members, and congregation representatives from Christian and Islamic faith communities in Port Harcourt, Ikwerre, and Khana local government areas. Structured questionnaires and interview guides were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were applied. Findings indicated that the majority of participating faith-based organisations conducted some form of health-related educational activity, primarily focused on HIV/AIDS, malaria, and maternal health. However, these activities were largely informal, irregular, and not coordinated with government health authorities. Organisations with dedicated health committees demonstrated significantly higher quality and frequency of health education delivery. The study recommended formalising the health education role of faith-based organisations through structured partnership agreements with the Rivers State Ministry of Health and the provision of standardised health education toolkits for religious health committees. Keywords: faith-based organisations, health education, community health, Rivers State, health communication