Influence of government health agencies’ social media messages on knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthy lifestyles among civil servants in Lagos, in Post-COVID-19 era

Abstract

The study investigated the impact of government health agencies' social media messages on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthy lifestyles among civil servants in Lagos State in the post-COVID-19 era. Leveraging a survey research design, 615 respondents were sampled using proportionate stratified and purposive sampling techniques. Analysis using SPSS revealed low knowledge levels but moderate attitudes and practices towards healthy lifestyles among civil servants. Positive correlations were found between the amount of health messages received and knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Notably, age did not significantly influence healthy lifestyle practices, but gender differences were observed, with males exhibiting healthier practices than females. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve health communication strategies, emphasizing the importance of social media in promoting healthy behaviors among civil servants. The study suggested implementing policies encouraging civil servants to share their social media details with government offices to effectively disseminate health information. This research contributes to understanding the role of social media in health communication and underscores its potential in fostering healthier lifestyles among civil servants in the post-COVID-19 era of Lagos.