Peer-reviewed article
University-Initiated Health Campaigns and Community Development: Exploring Student Volunteer Communicators’ Contributions to Selected SDGS in Osun and Oyo States, Nigeria
J. O. Olorede, Mutiu Adeniyi Afolabi, M. A. Azeeez ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study looks at how university students who volunteer as health communicators contribute to community health campaigns in Osun and Oyo States, Nigeria. It uses a qualitative narrative and documentary design, drawing on academic journals and UN and WHO policy documents. It reports that the students explain complex health issues to communities and correct myths. They also encourage communities to take part in disease prevention and in mother and child health services. The authors link these activities to Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, 5, 10 and 17. They recommend a formal policy framework, better training, more funding and stronger partnerships.
Key points
- Student volunteers act as intermediaries who explain complex health issues to community members and debunk myths.
- They mobilise communities to take part in disease prevention and in mother and child-care health services.
- Their work contributes directly to SDGs 3, 4, 5, 10 and 17.
- The authors recommend an institutionalised protocol or policy framework and adequate training for student volunteers.
- The authors call for more funding and better cooperation with external partners to overcome constraints.
Limitations
The study is based on a narrative and documentary review, with no measured outcomes for children or a comparison group, so it cannot show whether the campaigns improved child health. Child well-being is only one part of its focus, and the abstract gives no child-specific results.
Abstract
This study explored the efficacy of using university-initiated students as communicators in health promotion interventions. Also, the study examined how such a project can assist in meeting some Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Osun and Oyo States. The study adopted a qualitative narrative and documentary research design and reviewed relevant literature from academic journals and UN-WHO policy documents on Osun and Oyo States in Nigeria. The study revealed that university-initiated volunteer students serve as intermediaries who communicate the complex nature of health issues to members of various communities and debunk myths. Also, they mobilize communities to participate in disease prevention and promotion of mother and child-care health services. The findings further revealed students’ contributions directly towards the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 3, 4, 5, 10, and17). Following the revelations, it was recommended that there should be establishment of a more institutionalised protocol/policy frame, adequate training/capacity enhancement for the student volunteers. Also, there is a need for more funding and better co-operation with other external partners to surmount the obvious constraints encountered during the volunteer operation.