Usage of Indigenous Languages as Risk Communication Interventions for Kidney Disease Awareness in Ado-Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

Background: One major prevalent issue which is a global concern when it comes to public health is kidney disease, and statistics show an annual increase of 15% of diagnosed cases in Nigeria, with Lagos, Oyo, and Ogun showing the highest number of cases. Among the challenges hindering the communication of the risk factors associated with kidney disease in the Ado-Ota community, which is a South-West region of Nigeria is Indigenous Language and professionals. Objective: This paper adopts the Usage of Yoruba, an Indigenous Language, as a Risk Communication Intervention for Kidney Disease Awareness in Ado-Ota, South-West Nigeria. This work uses Yoruba to examine how health information on kidney disease is communicated to community members in Ado-Ota, one of the South-West regions of Nigeria. Method: To achieve this, the study explored the awareness, attitudes, perceptions, and preventive behaviours concerning kidney disease among residents in the Ado-Ota community in South-West Nigeria. The researcher assessed the effectiveness of indigenous language in enhancing knowledge and motivating health-seeking behaviours to prevent kidney disease. Methodologically, a cross-sectional survey design was employed, utilising a structured questionnaire to collect data from residents in the Ado-Ota community. Results: Findings from the study revealed that Individuals with High Exposure to health information on kidney disease (M = 3.6917, SD = .64444) exhibited significantly higher knowledge levels than those with Low Exposure (M = 2.5593, SD = .80408), with a mean difference of -1.13244 (95% CI [-1.28458, -0.98029]). High Exposure refers to individuals who regularly receive and engage with health information, while Low Exposure refers to those who have limited access to such information. However, despite the high exposure to messages on kidney disease, Conclusion: The findings revealed a gap in the deployment of indigenous language as a risk communication tool for better health awareness. This low awareness gave room for misconception and misinformation as regards the potential risk of kidney disease. The research concludes that in order to create a sustainable cause of action that would facilitate residents’ knowledge and engagement in a healthy lifestyle towards the prevention of Kidney disease, strategic risk communication using Indigenous languages, which involves targeted and culturally sensitive messaging, is necessary. Unique Contribution: This work reveals vital insights into the lack of health awareness when communicating kidney disease information and the requirement to bridge this gap. Key Recommendation: Therefore, the study recommends including healthcare professionals and communication experts to collaborate and host interactive workshops and educational sessions on kidney disease prevention in South-West Nigeria using indigenous languages, thereby enhancing their ability to communicate health information to the community effectively.