Personal variables and attitude of youths to Lassa fever preventive practices in Bwari area Council Abuja, Nigeria: Counselling implications

Abstract

The study investigated the influence of personal variables on the attitude of Youths in Bwari Area Council Abuja, Nigeria to Lassa fever preventive practices. The study used the descriptive survey design. Using the snowball sampling technique proposed by Jones (1997) and used by Denwigwe and Ezekwe (2017), a sample of 200 youths was selected from the study area. Four hypotheses were formulated for the study and tested at 0.05 level of significance. A researcher-made questionnaire known as the personal variables and attitude to Lassa fever preventive practices questionnaire (PVALPPQ) was used as the instrument for data collection. The population t-test and independent t-test were the statistical techniques for data analysis. Findings revealed that the attitude of youths in Bwari Area Council Abuja, Nigeria to Lassa fever preventive practices was negative, gender did not significantly influence youth’s attitude while youths’ education status and family type influenced youths’ attitude to Lassa fever preventive practices. Recommendations were stated such as counselling youths on the strategies for Lassa fever disease prevention