Church-Based Community Health Education: A Programme Design for HIV Prevention in South South Nigeria

Faith-based organisations, particularly churches, have been identified as underutilised but highly effective platforms for community health education, particularly in regions where public health infrastructure is inadequate. This study designs a church-based community health education programme for HIV prevention in South South Nigeria, drawing on health promotion theory and pastoral theology. A programme design methodology was adopted, incorporating a community needs assessment in Delta and Bayelsa States through surveys of 150 community members and interviews with twenty church leaders, fifteen public health workers, and ten people living with HIV. Theological and ethical principles for faith-based health programming, including dignity, compassion, and prophylaxis as creation stewardship, were developed as programme foundations. The designed programme includes six modules: HIV transmission facts and prevention theology, sexual ethics and Biblical sexuality education, stigma reduction from a grace-centred theology, pastoral support for people living with HIV, community referral pathways, and church monitoring and evaluation of health outcomes. Each module includes a trained church health volunteer delivery model. Pilot testing by five churches in Bayelsa State confirmed high acceptance and knowledge acquisition outcomes. The study recommends formal adoption by the Christian Health Association of Nigeria as a regional model for faith-based HIV programming in South South Nigeria, with replication potential across other high-prevalence zones.

Keywords: church health education, HIV prevention, programme design, South South Nigeria, faith-based health