Impact of Edutainment on Knowledge and Attitude Towards Utilization of Sexual Health Among in-School Adolescents in Selected Secondary Schools in Lagos State, Nigeria

Background: In-school adolescents in Nigeria experience numerous sexual and reproductive health challenges exacerbated by limited access to accurate sexual health information and youth-friendly services. Traditional methods of health education have shown limited effectiveness in engaging adolescents, thus leading to misconceptions and risky sexual behaviors. Edutainment, an innovative approach integrating education with entertainment, holds promise for effectively enhancing adolescents' knowledge and attitudes toward utilizing sexual health services. However, its application and efficacy remain underexplored in Lagos State, Nigeria. This study examined the impact of edutainment on adolescents' knowledge and attitudes regarding the utilization of sexual health services. Methodology: The study adopted a quasi-experimental design involving 60 adolescents systematically selected from two secondary schools in Lagos State, randomly assigned into Experimental (EG) and Control Groups (CG). The EG participated in an edutainment intervention comprising drama presentations, digital media, and interactive discussions, while the CG received traditional training on exercise and nutrition. Data were collected using a structured, validated questionnaire administered at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at a 12-week follow-up. Statistical analyses utilized descriptive and inferential statistics, evaluated at a 5% significance level. Results: Post-intervention findings revealed a significant increase in knowledge mean scores among EG participants from baseline (1.30 ± 0.65) to immediate post-intervention (2.93 ± 0.25), sustained at 12-week follow-up (3.00 ± 0.00; F = 170.80, p < 0.05). Similarly, attitude scores showed significant improvement from baseline (14.27 ± 6.46) through immediate post-intervention (34.10 ± 17.75) to 12-week follow-up (47.53 ± 1.11; F = 70.43, p < 0.05). The CG demonstrated no significant improvement in knowledge or attitude scores over the same periods. Conclusion: Edutainment significantly enhanced the knowledge and attitudes of in-school adolescents towards the utilization of sexual health services in Lagos State. This study recommends integrating edutainment strategies into adolescent health education curricula to promote positive sexual health outcomes.