Assessment of Health Education Materials Development Skills Among Health Workers in Primary Healthcare Centres in Nasarawa State

Effective health education materials are essential tools for translating complex health messages into accessible, actionable information for diverse community audiences. This study assessed the skills of health workers in developing appropriate health education materials at primary healthcare centres in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was used, involving 140 health educators and community health officers from primary healthcare centres in Lafia, Keffi, and Akwanga local government areas. A validated questionnaire and practical skills assessment checklist were administered. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi-square tests were applied. Findings revealed that the majority of health workers had inadequate skills in needs-based material selection, literacy-appropriate design, and evaluation of material effectiveness. Only 26 percent had received formal training in health education materials development. Commonly used materials were outdated and sourced from federal or international health agencies without local adaptation. Respondents with higher educational qualifications and those who had attended in-service training demonstrated significantly better material development skills. The study recommended a structured in-service capacity building programme on health education materials design for primary healthcare workers in Nasarawa State, incorporating principles of plain language communication and cultural adaptation. Keywords: health education materials, skills assessment, primary healthcare workers, Nasarawa State, health communication