KNOWLEDGE, PERCEPTION AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS PERIODIC MEDICAL CHECK-UP AMONG MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN, NIGERIA

Abstract

Disease prevention is recognised as a key strategy to reduce the morbidity and mortality of different types of diseases. Periodic Medical Checkup (PMC) is one of the tools for disease prevention, which enables certain risk factors or diseases to be detected at an early stage for timely interventions. There has been an increase in the number of people who die without any apparent cause in Nigeria or report so late to the hospital when little or nothing could be done to save their lives. Even though these sudden deaths resulting from lack of early medical attention are not only treatable, but they are highly preventable. Graduate Students of Public Health are important potential health change agents for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This study was designed to investigate the knowledge, perception and attitude of periodic medical checkup among Master of Public Health students of the University of Ibadan. This study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey involving the use of two-stage sampling technique to randomly select two hundred and sixty-five Master of Public Health students. Data were collected using validated semi-structured self-administered questionnaire. An 18-point Knowledge scores: 0 – 9, > 9 – 14, >14 were categorised as poor, fair and good, respectively. A 22-point Perception scale with score < 15 and ≥ 15 were categorised as poor and good perception, respectively. A 30-point Attitudinal score: < 22 and ≥ 22 were considered to be poor and good attitude. Also, 16-point scale was used to measure practice and practice score < 12 and ≥ 12 were categorised as poor and good practice towards periodic medical check-up. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and p< 0.05 as the level of significance. Age of the respondents was 26.9 ± 4.7 years, 35.5% were male while 64.5% were female and 12.8% were married and 87.2% were single. A few of all the respondents (3.8%) had good knowledge scores and 63.4% had fair knowledge. The majority, (96.6%) of the respondents had good perception scores, most (87.0%) had good attitude and some (43.4%) of the respondents scored high on the practice scale. There was a significant difference between gender and practice of periodic medical check-up while there was no significant difference between age and practice of periodic medical check-up. Knowledge of the respondents was fair, perception and attitude were good but the practice was poor. It is therefore recommended that screening centre be made available at the faculty where students can access for periodic medical check-up