Social Media as a Tool for Health Education on COVID-19 Prevention Among University Students in Lagos State

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of digital communication platforms in the rapid dissemination of public health information, particularly among young, tech-savvy populations. This study investigated the use of social media as a health education tool for COVID-19 prevention among university students in Lagos State, South West Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, with 350 undergraduate students recruited from the University of Lagos and Lagos State University. An online self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection, measuring social media exposure, health knowledge, and COVID-19 preventive behaviours. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were applied. Findings showed that 94 percent of respondents used social media daily, with Instagram and WhatsApp being the most frequently used platforms for health information. However, exposure to health misinformation was prevalent, with 46 percent of respondents reporting prior engagement with inaccurate COVID-19 content. Respondents who encountered verified health education content from institutional accounts showed significantly higher compliance with preventive measures. The study recommended that universities and public health authorities invest in institutional social media health education campaigns and implement digital health literacy programmes. Keywords: social media, health education, COVID-19 prevention, university students, Lagos State