Awareness and Perceptions of One Health among Undergraduate Students at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study

Awareness and Perceptions of One Health among Undergraduate Students at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Awareness and Perceptions of One Health among Undergraduate Students at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study Tajudeen Anu Abdulkareem, Yinmi Gabriel Oladeji, Barnabas Femi Jojolola, and 6 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7538380/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 15 Mar, 2026 Read the published version in Discover Public Health → Version 1 posted 12 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background The One Health (OH) concept highlights the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health. Despite its global importance, little is known about OH awareness among Nigerian undergraduates. This study assessed the knowledge and perceptions of OH among students at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Nigeria. Methods An analytical cross-sectional survey was conducted among undergraduate students at OAU using a semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire (Google Forms). Data collected included socio-demographics, awareness and perceptions of OH programs. Descriptive statistics summarised responses, and chi-square tests assessed associations between knowledge levels and socio-demographic variables at p < 0.05. Results A total of 180 students participated (52.2% female, 47.2% male; mean age 22.6 ± 2.9 years). Awareness of OH was limited: only 72 students (40.0%) had heard of it, and 41 (22.8%) could provide a correct definition. Social media (n = 64, 35.6%) and peer discussions (n = 49, 27.2%) were the primary sources of information. Knowledge levels were significantly associated with academic level (χ² = 5.60, p = 0.018) and field of study (χ² = 6.89, p = 0.009) but not with gender (p = 0.743) or age (p = 0.183). Conclusion This institutional study reveals low awareness and understanding of OH among OAU undergraduates, with knowledge varying by level and field of study. While limited to a university and a relatively small convenience sample, the findings provide a baseline for future multi-institutional and stratified surveys. Integrating OH into curricula, strengthening student-led initiatives, and leveraging digital media may improve OH literacy among Nigerian university students. One Health Undergraduate Students Awareness Perceptions Obafemi Awolowo University Nigeria Introduction The concept of One Health has been in existence for many years, but did not have a consensus definition until December 1, 2021, when it was given a new definition by the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) [ 1 ]. According to the joint panel, " One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. It recognizes the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent. " [ 2 ]. It is regarded as an investment in the future of humanity, as it prioritises the prevention of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), which is seen as a more effective approach than seeking solutions after outbreaks occur [ 3 ]. The importance of One Health cannot be overemphasised. Previous literatures have highlighted the need for a One Health approach in tackling different health problems, some of which includes the occurrence of multidrug resistant bacteria in domesticated animals [ 4 ], and other antimicrobial resistance (AMR) concerns, while it also addresses critical health issues such as food safety, and zoonoses, which have been reported to be the cause of over 1 billion human infections and 1 million deaths every year [ 3 ]. Nigeria and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa have put in some efforts towards the implementation of One Health to tackle emerging infections [ 5 ], alongside many other approaches that have been employed to promote One Health to the populace to improve physical health and efficiency, but despite all these, more work still needs to be done [ 6 ]. The concept appears to have certain possibilities at the national level but still seems to be far away from being institutionalised, especially at the local level [ 7 ]. However, an important strategy which has not been focused on enhancing One Health education is the involvement of students and youth groups, as they are the future professionals who usually engage themselves in voluntary and promotional activities right from their undergraduate days, and are usually skilled in the use of various means of communication to pass important messages across to people. In a study, it was stated that some universities introduce the topic to their medical and veterinary students in their fifth academic year [ 8 ]. This indicates the lack of substantial knowledge about it on time, resulting in their inability to communicate at the grassroots level. It then becomes important for students of tertiary institutions in large numbers, regardless of their academic disciplines, to know about One Health so that the knowledge can easily be spread across various societies. This study aims to assess the level of awareness of One Health by surveying its knowledge and perceptions among undergraduate students, as well as recent graduates of Nigerian Universities. This research sampled some Nigerian undergraduate students from different tertiary institutions, especially universities, across the country to find out if they already knew about the concept, determine how effective previous One Health education programs have been so far in Nigeria, and seek their opinions on ways in which One Health awareness could be improved. Methods Study Design and Setting This was an analytical cross-sectional exploratory survey conducted among undergraduate students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, between March 18 and April 22, 2023. OAU is one of Nigeria’s largest federal universities with diverse faculties and student populations. Study Population and Eligibility The target population was undergraduate students at OAU across different faculties. Recent graduates (≤ 1 year post-graduation) were also eligible. Exclusion criteria included postgraduate students, graduates beyond one year, and non-OAU students. Sample Size and Sampling Technique A total of 180 students completed the survey. Participants were recruited using a convenience sampling approach by distributing an online questionnaire via student networks and social media platforms. While convenience sampling enabled rapid data collection, it limited representativeness. The sample size was not pre-estimated statistically; hence, findings are exploratory and intended to inform future multi-institutional surveys. Study Tool Data were collected using a semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire developed in Google Forms. The questionnaire comprised two sections: Socio-demographic information (gender, age, academic level, faculty/discipline). Knowledge and perceptions of One Health, including prior awareness, ability to define OH, sources of information, engagement in OH-related activities, and views on effective strategies to improve OH awareness. Definition of Knowledge Levels Knowledge was classified as follows: Good knowledge: respondents who correctly defined One Health in line with the 2021 OHHLEP definition (human, animal, and environmental health interconnection). Poor knowledge: respondents who could not define OH or gave an incorrect/incomplete definition. Data Analysis Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) summarised the responses. The chi-square test examined associations between categorical variables (e.g., knowledge vs socio-demographics). One-way ANOVA was applied for quantitative variables where appropriate. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results Sociodemographic Characteristics of Respondents A total of 180 undergraduate students at OAU completed the survey. Females represented 94 (52.2%), males 85 (47.2%), and one respondent (0.6%) preferred not to disclose gender. The majority of students (133, 73.9%) were aged 18–25 years (mean age 22.6 ± 2.9). By academic level, most were in the 400 level (55, 30.6%) or 300 level (47, 26.1%), with smaller numbers in lower levels. Microbiology students formed the largest group (71, 39.4%), followed by other sciences (48, 26.7%) and health sciences (13, 7.2%) (Table 1 ). Table 1 Sociodemographic characteristics of OAU undergraduate respondents (March–April 2023, N = 180) Variable Frequency (n) Percentage (%) Gender: Female 94 52.2 Male 85 47.2 Prefer not to say 1 0.6 Age: 18–25 133 73.9 ≥ 25 44 24.4 < 18 3 1.7 Academic Level: 100 18 10.0 200 24 13.3 300 47 26.1 400 55 30.6 500 5 2.8 600 2 1.1 Graduate 29 16.1 Field: Microbiology 71 39.4 Other Sciences 48 26.7 Health Sciences 13 7.2 Social Sciences 14 7.8 Natural Sciences 12 6.7 Engineering 12 6.7 Agriculture 10 5.6 Awareness and Knowledge of One Health Out of 180 respondents, 72 (40.0%) reported having heard of OH, while 108 (60.0%) were unfamiliar or uncertain. Only 41 (22.8%) could correctly define the concept. The most common sources of information were social media (64, 35.6%) and peer discussions (49, 27.2%). Other sources, such as seminars, webinars, and lectures, were less frequently reported. Overall, knowledge levels were low, with 139 students (77.2%) classified as having poor knowledge and only 41 (22.8%) demonstrating good knowledge (Table 2 ). Table 2 Awareness and knowledge of One Health among OAU undergraduates (N = 180) Variable Frequency (n) Percentage (%) Heard of One Health: Yes 72 40.0 No 95 52.8 Maybe 13 7.2 Correct Definition: Yes 41 22.8 No 139 77.2 Knowledge Classification: Good 41 22.8 Poor 139 77.2 Source: Social Media 64 35.6 Peers 49 27.2 Seminars 18 10.0 Webinars 7 3.9 Community Enlightenment 7 3.9 Other Sources 35 19.4 Engagement with One Health Activities Active involvement in OH-related activities was limited. Only 9 students (5.0%) reported attending OH-related events, 21 (11.7%) had volunteered in OH activities, and 46 (25.6%) had ever participated in OH programs. The majority (134, 74.4%) reported no participation (Table 3 ). When asked about the perceived effectiveness of OH education at their institution, 67 (37.2%) expressed uncertainty, 53 (29.4%) rated it as “fairly effective,” 39 (21.7%) as “very effective,” and 21 (11.7%) considered it “not effective.” Table 3 Engagement and perceived effectiveness of One Health programs among OAU undergraduates (N = 180) Variable Frequency (n) Percentage (%) Attended OH Event: Yes 9 5.0 No/Not Sure 171 95.0 Volunteered in OH: Yes 21 11.7 No 159 88.3 Participated in OH Activities: Yes 46 25.6 No 134 74.4 Effectiveness: Very Effective 39 21.7 Fairly Effective 53 29.4 Not Effective 21 11.7 Unsure/No Response 67 37.2 Association Between Sociodemographic Characteristics and Knowledge Chi-square analysis showed that academic level (χ² = 5.60, p = 0.018) and field of study (χ² = 6.89, p = 0.009) were significantly associated with OH knowledge. Students in higher academic levels and those in microbiology/health sciences were more likely to demonstrate good knowledge. Gender (p = 0.743) and age group (p = 0.183) were not significantly associated with knowledge (Table 4 ). Table 4 Association between socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge of One Health among OAU undergraduates (N = 180) Variable Chi-square (χ²) df p-value Significant (p < 0.05) Gender 0.595 2 0.743 No Age Group 3.393 2 0.183 No Academic Level 5.598 1 0.018 Yes Field of Study 6.887 1 0.009 Yes Discussion This study assessed the awareness and perceptions of the One Health (OH) concept among undergraduates at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Nigeria. The findings revealed generally low awareness, as only 40% of respondents had ever heard of OH, and fewer than one-quarter (22.8%) could correctly define it. Social media and peer discussions were the main sources of information, while active engagement in OH activities such as volunteering or attending related events was minimal. Knowledge was significantly associated with academic level and field of study, suggesting that disciplinary exposure and progression in training influence students’ understanding of OH. Our findings align with previous surveys in other low- and middle-income settings that also reported low or moderate OH awareness among university students. In Nepal, veterinary and medical undergraduates demonstrated better OH knowledge when curricula included interprofessional training modules [ 9 ]. Similarly, a study in China found that OH awareness varied significantly across disciplines, with medical students scoring higher than their counterparts in environmental and social sciences [ 10 ]. In Türkiye, undergraduate students showed limited baseline knowledge but expressed strong interest in OH once exposed through workshops and student club activities [ 11 ]. These international comparisons suggest that the observed disciplinary differences at OAU are consistent with global trends, and they highlight the importance of structured curricular integration. The limited awareness and engagement demonstrated in this study underscore the need for Nigerian universities to embed OH principles into undergraduate curricula. Introducing OH concepts early, particularly in the health and life sciences, could foster interdisciplinary collaboration and strengthen preparedness for zoonotic disease threats and environmental health challenges [ 12 ]. Additionally, student-led initiatives, seminars, and faculty-supported OH clubs could help translate awareness into active participation [ 13 ]. Given that social media was identified as the leading source of OH information, leveraging structured online platforms and targeted campaigns may provide a cost-effective means of enhancing OH literacy [ 14 ]. Strengths and Limitations A strength of this study is that it provides one of the first institution-specific assessments of OH awareness among Nigerian undergraduates, offering baseline data for larger surveys. However, limitations must be acknowledged. The study was restricted to a single institution (OAU), limiting generalizability. The use of convenience sampling and online survey distribution may have introduced selection bias. The relatively small sample size also reduced statistical power for subgroup analyses. As such, the results should be interpreted as exploratory and not representative of the entire Nigerian undergraduate population [ 15 ]. Future Directions To build on this baseline, future studies should adopt multi-institutional and stratified sampling strategies across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Such approaches would provide more representative insights into the distribution of OH awareness across disciplines and universities [ 16 ]. Comparative studies across sub-Saharan Africa could also help situate Nigeria’s experience within the broader regional context. Conclusion In summary, this exploratory cross-sectional survey conducted at Obafemi Awolowo University reveals low awareness and limited understanding of the One Health concept among undergraduates, with knowledge levels significantly influenced by academic level and field of study. These findings parallel research in Nepal [ 9 ], China [ 10 ], and Turkey [ 11 ], where OH awareness was similarly limited and discipline-dependent. To strengthen OH literacy across Nigerian universities, the curriculum should embed One Health principles systematically as proposed in medical education frameworks [ 12 ] and adopted in Zimbabwe’s teacher-training programs [ 13 ]. Additionally, enhancing community and student engagement, demonstrated to be effective in the African context [ 14 ], will be instrumental. The limitations of this study, including its single-site design and small convenience sample, highlight the need for larger, multi-institutional studies employing stratified sampling [ 15 ], particularly across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones [ 16 ]. By integrating OH into academic curricula, empowering student-led and community initiatives, and facilitating participatory research, Nigerian universities can cultivate a generation capable of addressing complex health challenges at the human-animal-environment interface. Recommendations Based on the findings of this study, several recommendations can be drawn to strengthen One Health (OH) awareness among Nigerian undergraduates. First, OH principles should be systematically integrated into undergraduate curricula, particularly within the health, biological, and environmental sciences, to promote interdisciplinary understanding. In addition, universities should actively support student engagement by encouraging the formation of OH clubs and societies, complemented by faculty-led workshops, seminars, and public lectures to bridge the gap between awareness and practice. Given that social media was the leading source of OH information among respondents, structured use of digital platforms and online campaigns could provide a cost-effective means of delivering accurate OH education. At the policy level, Nigerian higher education regulators are encouraged to incorporate OH into curriculum review and accreditation frameworks. Future studies should also adopt multi-institutional, stratified sampling strategies to generate nationally representative data and capture disciplinary and regional variations. Finally, collaboration with regional and international OH education initiatives will be vital to share best practices and strengthen student-led literacy programs across sub-Saharan Africa. Abbreviations AMR Antimicrobial Resistance EIDs Emerging Infectious Diseases NUC Nigerian Universities Commission OAU Obafemi Awolowo University OH One Health OHHLEP One Health High–Level Expert Panel Declarations Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate The need of ethical approval was waived by the Ethics and Research Committee of the College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, after reviewing the study protocol. The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki (1964) and its later amendments. The study involved only anonymous survey responses without clinical interventions or biological sampling. Participation was voluntary, informed consent was obtained from all participants, and data confidentiality was strictly maintained. Competing Interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Funding No funding or grant was acquired for this research, except for individual commitments from the authors. Author Contribution T.A.A. was involved in the design and coordination of this study and formatted the manuscript according to the submission guidelines. B.F.J. and S.O.A. drafted the Methodology section and reviewed the references and grammar of the manuscript. Y.G.O. wrote the Conclusion, while R.M.O. drafted the Discussion section. T.A. prepared the Introduction, and H.A.S., M.S., and O.B.O. contributed to the analysis and interpretation of the data, as well as the preparation of the tables and results section. All nine authors participated in data collection, read and approved the final version of the manuscript, and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the research. Acknowledgement We would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Habiba I. Atta for her valuable guidance, recommendations, and reviews throughout our research. We also acknowledge Adeyemi Iyanuoluwa for her contributions at the initial stages of the study. Additionally, we extend our appreciation to all the individuals who participated in our survey, as well as everyone who provided moral support and helped publicize the online questionnaire used for data collection. Data Availability All data supporting the findings of this study are available within the paper and its supplementary information. References Adisasmito WB, Almuhairi S, Behravesh CB, Bilivogui P, Bukachi SA, Casas N, et al. One Health: A new definition for a sustainable and healthy future. PLoS Pathog. 2022;18(6):e1010537. WHO, Tripartite. and UNEP support OHHLEP’s definition of ‘One Health’ [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2025 May 12]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/01-12-2021-tripartite-and-unep-support-ohhlep-s-definition-of-one-health Berthe FCJ, Bali SR, Batmanian GJ. Putting pandemics behind us: investing in one health to reduce risks of emerging infectious diseases. World Bank Group [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 Aug 1]; Available from: https://coilink.org/20.500.12592/7bc4kj. Akinsuyi OS, Orababa OQ, Juwon OM, Oladunjoye IO, Akande ET, Ekpueke MM et al. One Health approach, a solution to reducing the menace of multidrug-resistant bacteria and zoonoses from domesticated animals in Nigeria–A review. Global Biosecur. 2021;3. Ayobami O, Mark G, Kadri-Alabi Z, Achi CR, Jacob JC. COVID-19: an opportunity to re-evaluate the implementation of a One Health approach to tackling emerging infections in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries. J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 2021;96(1):26. Lucero-Prisno DE III, Owhor GA, Olayemi A, Nzeribe E, Okeke BI. Addressing one health in Nigeria; challenges and recommendations. PAMJ-one health. 2023;10. Okello AL, Bardosh K, Smith J, Welburn SC. One health: past successes and future challenges in three African contexts. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014;8(5):e2884. Adesola RO, Esanju DO, Gbore DJ, Akintola AA, Ayomide BB, Prisno DEL III, et al. Students Engagement in One Health Initiatives in Africa: Recommendations to a Way Forward. Strides Dev Med Educ. 2024;21(1):248–54. Destoumieux-Garzón D, Mavingui P, Boetsch G, Boissier J, Darriet F, Duboz P, et al. The one health concept: 10 years old and a long road ahead. Front veterinary Sci. 2018;5:14. Subedi D, Gautam A, Sapkota D, Subedi S, Sharma S, Abdulkareem M, et al. Knowledge and perception of veterinary students on One Health: A first nationwide multi-institutional survey in Nepal. Int J One Health. 2022;8(1):34–42. Wu C, Astbury CC, Lee KM, Gong Z, Chen S, Li A, et al. Public awareness of one health in China. One Health. 2023;17:100603. Ozguler Z, Aslan D. Knowledge and perceptions of physicians and veterinarians about One Health in Turkiye/Connaissances et perceptions des medecins et veterinaires concernant l’approche < > en Turkiye. East Mediterr Health J. 2023;29(10):767–75. AFROHUN Students One Health Innovations Club (SOHIC) Guide [Internet]. Africa One Health University Network. Available from: https://afrohun.org/students-one-health-innovations-club-sohic-guide/ Integrating One Health into medical curriculum at the University of Global Health Equity, Rwanda [Internet]. Commun Med . 2022;—. Available from: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-022-00218-0 Core Competencies in One Health Education: What Are We Missing? [Internet]. National Academy of Medicine. Available from: https://nam.edu/core-competencies-in-one-health-education-what-are-we-missing/ Incorporating One Health into medical education: the value of systems-based, interdisciplinary training [Internet]. BMC Med Educ . 2017;17:236. Available from: https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/ 10.1186/s12909-017-0883-6 Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files Dataset.zip Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 15 Mar, 2026 Read the published version in Discover Public Health → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 01 Oct, 2025 Reviews received at journal 01 Oct, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 22 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 21 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 19 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 19 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 19 Sep, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 19 Sep, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 19 Sep, 2025 Editor invited by journal 12 Sep, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 12 Sep, 2025 First submitted to journal 12 Sep, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7538380","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":521950019,"identity":"95cc2176-5be2-4c2e-b95e-1ba80d60e63c","order_by":0,"name":"Tajudeen Anu Abdulkareem","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"Obafemi Awolowo University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Tajudeen","middleName":"Anu","lastName":"Abdulkareem","suffix":""},{"id":521950020,"identity":"7974a0ad-ab42-4b39-b715-d6666842dc98","order_by":1,"name":"Yinmi Gabriel Oladeji","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Obafemi Awolowo University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yinmi","middleName":"Gabriel","lastName":"Oladeji","suffix":""},{"id":521950021,"identity":"c41f59b5-d0ac-47b0-af8f-3b2750b1e1fb","order_by":2,"name":"Barnabas Femi Jojolola","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Obafemi Awolowo University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Barnabas","middleName":"Femi","lastName":"Jojolola","suffix":""},{"id":521950022,"identity":"793e8fc9-4a71-425e-abe1-8fe62cb96e79","order_by":3,"name":"Mumeen Sanusi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Obafemi Awolowo University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mumeen","middleName":"","lastName":"Sanusi","suffix":""},{"id":521950023,"identity":"bffcf4b1-7933-4043-8fea-7efd35982847","order_by":4,"name":"Tosin Ajayi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Obafemi Awolowo University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Tosin","middleName":"","lastName":"Ajayi","suffix":""},{"id":521950024,"identity":"1c1008cf-e157-4b66-986a-9a4c51288454","order_by":5,"name":"Hafsah Adeyinka Suleiman","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Obafemi Awolowo University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Hafsah","middleName":"Adeyinka","lastName":"Suleiman","suffix":""},{"id":521950025,"identity":"7c4b733d-803b-49b9-ab47-9bde1658550b","order_by":6,"name":"Rukayat Modupeoluwa Oyewole","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Obafemi Awolowo University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Rukayat","middleName":"Modupeoluwa","lastName":"Oyewole","suffix":""},{"id":521950026,"identity":"0c6ec137-c795-4739-a9ad-cd4263c60aa0","order_by":7,"name":"Samuel Oluseyi Awoniyi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Obafemi Awolowo University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Samuel","middleName":"Oluseyi","lastName":"Awoniyi","suffix":""},{"id":521950027,"identity":"33c34d69-6983-41c0-bcb3-ed3a485d3908","order_by":8,"name":"Odekunle Bola Odegbemi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Nigerian Navy Hospital","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Odekunle","middleName":"Bola","lastName":"Odegbemi","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-09-04 17:38:23","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7538380/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7538380/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-026-01705-8","type":"published","date":"2026-03-15T15:59:18+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":92460529,"identity":"12392c92-466b-488a-85d4-8f7274ccd4f0","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-30 03:35:36","extension":"docx","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":39052,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"AwarenessandPerceptionsofOneHealthamongUndergraduateStudentsatObafemiAwolowoUniversityNigeriaAnExploratoryCrossSectionalStudy.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7538380/v1/1129b43309053db30e39a283.docx"},{"id":92461034,"identity":"d0d01ce9-ebd5-4abd-9fe1-ffda8f33fd3a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-30 03:43:36","extension":"json","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":10768,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"deeaf0769b304d27b278561b75bb02c8.json","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7538380/v1/dc17ecf806d9c91b6afff552.json"},{"id":92460546,"identity":"1368b238-feaf-40ca-9551-9800070c4325","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-30 03:35:37","extension":"zip","order_by":2,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":486888,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Dataset.zip","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7538380/v1/1a92c0dccc340d0fb3628514.zip"},{"id":92460531,"identity":"06486b5e-16dd-4d48-8943-3cd69b260c6d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-30 03:35:36","extension":"xml","order_by":3,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":69165,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"deeaf0769b304d27b278561b75bb02c81enriched.xml","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7538380/v1/542f3b6a57ff654747f80566.xml"},{"id":92461035,"identity":"d2e1a805-8bab-41c1-8a81-eb482e55af18","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-30 03:43:36","extension":"xml","order_by":4,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":66860,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"deeaf0769b304d27b278561b75bb02c81structuring.xml","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7538380/v1/2f27be10de498cd563237cb0.xml"},{"id":92460547,"identity":"c95c5ad2-890e-46c6-a537-bd5dfe69f31d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-30 03:35:37","extension":"html","order_by":5,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":74688,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"earlyproof.html","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7538380/v1/12d02a52071ab47e51e47dff.html"},{"id":104740821,"identity":"6c590741-1678-45ca-867b-ca22f2baea68","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-16 16:19:10","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1020750,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7538380/v1/bf465efb-7ebe-4303-9f41-6f371777acd4.pdf"},{"id":92460533,"identity":"efd6e65b-a5fa-4931-8cfc-9d650b967583","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-30 03:35:36","extension":"zip","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":486888,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Dataset.zip","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7538380/v1/ee544751d5e752df8e2891d4.zip"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Awareness and Perceptions of One Health among Undergraduate Students at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe concept of One Health has been in existence for many years, but did not have a consensus definition until December 1, 2021, when it was given a new definition by the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. According to the joint panel, \"\u003cb\u003eOne Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. It recognizes the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent.\u003c/b\u003e\" [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. It is regarded as an investment in the future of humanity, as it prioritises the prevention of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), which is seen as a more effective approach than seeking solutions after outbreaks occur [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. The importance of One Health cannot be overemphasised. Previous literatures have highlighted the need for a One Health approach in tackling different health problems, some of which includes the occurrence of multidrug resistant bacteria in domesticated animals [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e], and other antimicrobial resistance (AMR) concerns, while it also addresses critical health issues such as food safety, and zoonoses, which have been reported to be the cause of over 1\u0026nbsp;billion human infections and 1\u0026nbsp;million deaths every year [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNigeria and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa have put in some efforts towards the implementation of One Health to tackle emerging infections [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e], alongside many other approaches that have been employed to promote One Health to the populace to improve physical health and efficiency, but despite all these, more work still needs to be done [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. The concept appears to have certain possibilities at the national level but still seems to be far away from being institutionalised, especially at the local level [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHowever, an important strategy which has not been focused on enhancing One Health education is the involvement of students and youth groups, as they are the future professionals who usually engage themselves in voluntary and promotional activities right from their undergraduate days, and are usually skilled in the use of various means of communication to pass important messages across to people. In a study, it was stated that some universities introduce the topic to their medical and veterinary students in their fifth academic year [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e]. This indicates the lack of substantial knowledge about it on time, resulting in their inability to communicate at the grassroots level. It then becomes important for students of tertiary institutions in large numbers, regardless of their academic disciplines, to know about One Health so that the knowledge can easily be spread across various societies.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study aims to assess the level of awareness of One Health by surveying its knowledge and perceptions among undergraduate students, as well as recent graduates of Nigerian Universities. This research sampled some Nigerian undergraduate students from different tertiary institutions, especially universities, across the country to find out if they already knew about the concept, determine how effective previous One Health education programs have been so far in Nigeria, and seek their opinions on ways in which One Health awareness could be improved.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eStudy Design and Setting\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis was an analytical cross-sectional exploratory survey conducted among undergraduate students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, between March 18 and April 22, 2023. OAU is one of Nigeria\u0026rsquo;s largest federal universities with diverse faculties and student populations.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eStudy Population and Eligibility\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe target population was undergraduate students at OAU across different faculties. Recent graduates (\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;1 year post-graduation) were also eligible. Exclusion criteria included postgraduate students, graduates beyond one year, and non-OAU students.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSample Size and Sampling Technique\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA total of 180 students completed the survey. Participants were recruited using a convenience sampling approach by distributing an online questionnaire via student networks and social media platforms. While convenience sampling enabled rapid data collection, it limited representativeness. The sample size was not pre-estimated statistically; hence, findings are exploratory and intended to inform future multi-institutional surveys.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eStudy Tool\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eData were collected using a semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire developed in Google Forms. The questionnaire comprised two sections:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSocio-demographic information (gender, age, academic level, faculty/discipline).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKnowledge and perceptions of One Health, including prior awareness, ability to define OH, sources of information, engagement in OH-related activities, and views on effective strategies to improve OH awareness.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDefinition of Knowledge Levels\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKnowledge was classified as follows:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGood knowledge: respondents who correctly defined One Health in line with the 2021 OHHLEP definition (human, animal, and environmental health interconnection).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePoor knowledge: respondents who could not define OH or gave an incorrect/incomplete definition.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eData were analysed using IBM SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) summarised the responses. The chi-square test examined associations between categorical variables (e.g., knowledge vs socio-demographics). One-way ANOVA was applied for quantitative variables where appropriate. Statistical significance was set at p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSociodemographic Characteristics of Respondents\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA total of 180 undergraduate students at OAU completed the survey. Females represented 94 (52.2%), males 85 (47.2%), and one respondent (0.6%) preferred not to disclose gender. The majority of students (133, 73.9%) were aged 18\u0026ndash;25 years (mean age 22.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.9). By academic level, most were in the 400 level (55, 30.6%) or 300 level (47, 26.1%), with smaller numbers in lower levels. Microbiology students formed the largest group (71, 39.4%), followed by other sciences (48, 26.7%) and health sciences (13, 7.2%) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSociodemographic characteristics of OAU undergraduate respondents (March\u0026ndash;April 2023, N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;180)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrequency (n)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePercentage (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGender:\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e94\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e52.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e85\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e47.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrefer not to say\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAge:\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e18\u0026ndash;25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e133\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e73.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e44\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e24.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;18\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"6\" rowspan=\"7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAcademic Level:\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e18\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e200\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e24\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e300\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e47\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e26.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e400\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e55\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e30.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e500\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e600\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGraduate\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e29\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"6\" rowspan=\"7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eField:\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMicrobiology\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e71\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther Sciences\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e48\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e26.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHealth Sciences\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSocial Sciences\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNatural Sciences\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEngineering\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAgriculture\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAwareness and Knowledge of One Health\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOut of 180 respondents, 72 (40.0%) reported having heard of OH, while 108 (60.0%) were unfamiliar or uncertain. Only 41 (22.8%) could correctly define the concept. The most common sources of information were social media (64, 35.6%) and peer discussions (49, 27.2%). Other sources, such as seminars, webinars, and lectures, were less frequently reported. Overall, knowledge levels were low, with 139 students (77.2%) classified as having poor knowledge and only 41 (22.8%) demonstrating good knowledge (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAwareness and knowledge of One Health among OAU undergraduates (N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;180)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrequency (n)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePercentage (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHeard of One Health:\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e72\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e95\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e52.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMaybe\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCorrect Definition:\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e22.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e139\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e77.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eKnowledge Classification:\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGood\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e22.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePoor\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e139\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e77.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"5\" rowspan=\"6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSource:\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSocial Media\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e64\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e35.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeers\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e49\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e27.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSeminars\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e18\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWebinars\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCommunity Enlightenment\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther Sources\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e35\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e19.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eEngagement with One Health Activities\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eActive involvement in OH-related activities was limited. Only 9 students (5.0%) reported attending OH-related events, 21 (11.7%) had volunteered in OH activities, and 46 (25.6%) had ever participated in OH programs. The majority (134, 74.4%) reported no participation (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen asked about the perceived effectiveness of OH education at their institution, 67 (37.2%) expressed uncertainty, 53 (29.4%) rated it as \u0026ldquo;fairly effective,\u0026rdquo; 39 (21.7%) as \u0026ldquo;very effective,\u0026rdquo; and 21 (11.7%) considered it \u0026ldquo;not effective.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEngagement and perceived effectiveness of One Health programs among OAU undergraduates (N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;180)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrequency (n)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePercentage (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAttended OH Event:\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo/Not Sure\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e171\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e95.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVolunteered in OH:\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e159\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e88.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eParticipated in OH Activities:\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e46\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e134\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e74.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEffectiveness:\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVery Effective\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e21.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFairly Effective\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e53\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e29.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot Effective\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnsure/No Response\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e67\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e37.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAssociation Between Sociodemographic Characteristics and Knowledge\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eChi-square analysis showed that \u003cb\u003eacademic level (χ\u0026sup2; = 5.60, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.018)\u003c/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003efield of study (χ\u0026sup2; = 6.89, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.009)\u003c/b\u003e were significantly associated with OH knowledge. Students in higher academic levels and those in microbiology/health sciences were more likely to demonstrate good knowledge. Gender (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.743) and age group (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.183) were not significantly associated with knowledge (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAssociation between socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge of One Health among OAU undergraduates (N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;180)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChi-square (χ\u0026sup2;)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edf\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ep-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSignificant (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.595\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.743\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAge Group\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.393\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.183\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAcademic Level\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.598\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.018\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eField of Study\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.887\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.009\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study assessed the awareness and perceptions of the One Health (OH) concept among undergraduates at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Nigeria. The findings revealed generally low awareness, as only 40% of respondents had ever heard of OH, and fewer than one-quarter (22.8%) could correctly define it. Social media and peer discussions were the main sources of information, while active engagement in OH activities such as volunteering or attending related events was minimal. Knowledge was significantly associated with academic level and field of study, suggesting that disciplinary exposure and progression in training influence students\u0026rsquo; understanding of OH.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOur findings align with previous surveys in other low- and middle-income settings that also reported low or moderate OH awareness among university students. In Nepal, veterinary and medical undergraduates demonstrated better OH knowledge when curricula included interprofessional training modules [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e]. Similarly, a study in China found that OH awareness varied significantly across disciplines, with medical students scoring higher than their counterparts in environmental and social sciences [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]. In T\u0026uuml;rkiye, undergraduate students showed limited baseline knowledge but expressed strong interest in OH once exposed through workshops and student club activities [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e]. These international comparisons suggest that the observed disciplinary differences at OAU are consistent with global trends, and they highlight the importance of structured curricular integration.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe limited awareness and engagement demonstrated in this study underscore the need for Nigerian universities to embed OH principles into undergraduate curricula. Introducing OH concepts early, particularly in the health and life sciences, could foster interdisciplinary collaboration and strengthen preparedness for zoonotic disease threats and environmental health challenges [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e]. Additionally, student-led initiatives, seminars, and faculty-supported OH clubs could help translate awareness into active participation [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]. Given that social media was identified as the leading source of OH information, leveraging structured online platforms and targeted campaigns may provide a cost-effective means of enhancing OH literacy [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eStrengths and Limitations\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA strength of this study is that it provides one of the first institution-specific assessments of OH awareness among Nigerian undergraduates, offering baseline data for larger surveys. However, limitations must be acknowledged. The study was restricted to a single institution (OAU), limiting generalizability. The use of convenience sampling and online survey distribution may have introduced selection bias. The relatively small sample size also reduced statistical power for subgroup analyses. As such, the results should be interpreted as exploratory and not representative of the entire Nigerian undergraduate population [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec16\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFuture Directions\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo build on this baseline, future studies should adopt multi-institutional and stratified sampling strategies across Nigeria\u0026rsquo;s six geopolitical zones. Such approaches would provide more representative insights into the distribution of OH awareness across disciplines and universities [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e]. Comparative studies across sub-Saharan Africa could also help situate Nigeria\u0026rsquo;s experience within the broader regional context.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn summary, this exploratory cross-sectional survey conducted at Obafemi Awolowo University reveals low awareness and limited understanding of the One Health concept among undergraduates, with knowledge levels significantly influenced by academic level and field of study. These findings parallel research in Nepal [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e], China [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e], and Turkey [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e], where OH awareness was similarly limited and discipline-dependent.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo strengthen OH literacy across Nigerian universities, the curriculum should embed One Health principles systematically as proposed in medical education frameworks [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e] and adopted in Zimbabwe\u0026rsquo;s teacher-training programs [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]. Additionally, enhancing community and student engagement, demonstrated to be effective in the African context [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e], will be instrumental. The limitations of this study, including its single-site design and small convenience sample, highlight the need for larger, multi-institutional studies employing stratified sampling [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e], particularly across Nigeria\u0026rsquo;s geopolitical zones [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e By integrating OH into academic curricula, empowering student-led and community initiatives, and facilitating participatory research, Nigerian universities can cultivate a generation capable of addressing complex health challenges at the human-animal-environment interface.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRecommendations\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBased on the findings of this study, several recommendations can be drawn to strengthen One Health (OH) awareness among Nigerian undergraduates. First, OH principles should be systematically integrated into undergraduate curricula, particularly within the health, biological, and environmental sciences, to promote interdisciplinary understanding. In addition, universities should actively support student engagement by encouraging the formation of OH clubs and societies, complemented by faculty-led workshops, seminars, and public lectures to bridge the gap between awareness and practice.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGiven that social media was the leading source of OH information among respondents, structured use of digital platforms and online campaigns could provide a cost-effective means of delivering accurate OH education. At the policy level, Nigerian higher education regulators are encouraged to incorporate OH into curriculum review and accreditation frameworks. Future studies should also adopt multi-institutional, stratified sampling strategies to generate nationally representative data and capture disciplinary and regional variations. Finally, collaboration with regional and international OH education initiatives will be vital to share best practices and strengthen student-led literacy programs across sub-Saharan Africa.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Abbreviations","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionList\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003eAMR\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAntimicrobial Resistance\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003eEIDs\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEmerging Infectious Diseases\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003eNUC\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNigerian Universities Commission\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003eOAU\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eObafemi Awolowo University\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003eOH\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne Health\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003eOHHLEP\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne Health High\u0026ndash;Level Expert Panel\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ch2\u003eEthical Approval and Consent to Participate\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e The need of ethical approval was waived by the Ethics and Research Committee of the College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, after reviewing the study protocol. The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki (1964) and its later amendments. The study involved only anonymous survey responses without clinical interventions or biological sampling. Participation was voluntary, informed consent was obtained from all participants, and data confidentiality was strictly maintained.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCompeting Interests\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFunding\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo funding or grant was acquired for this research, except for individual commitments from the authors.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eT.A.A. was involved in the design and coordination of this study and formatted the manuscript according to the submission guidelines. B.F.J. and S.O.A. drafted the Methodology section and reviewed the references and grammar of the manuscript. Y.G.O. wrote the Conclusion, while R.M.O. drafted the Discussion section. T.A. prepared the Introduction, and H.A.S., M.S., and O.B.O. contributed to the analysis and interpretation of the data, as well as the preparation of the tables and results section. All nine authors participated in data collection, read and approved the final version of the manuscript, and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the research.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAcknowledgement\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Habiba I. Atta for her valuable guidance, recommendations, and reviews throughout our research. We also acknowledge Adeyemi Iyanuoluwa for her contributions at the initial stages of the study. Additionally, we extend our appreciation to all the individuals who participated in our survey, as well as everyone who provided moral support and helped publicize the online questionnaire used for data collection.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData Availability\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll data supporting the findings of this study are available within the paper and its supplementary information.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdisasmito WB, Almuhairi S, Behravesh CB, Bilivogui P, Bukachi SA, Casas N, et al. One Health: A new definition for a sustainable and healthy future. PLoS Pathog. 2022;18(6):e1010537.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWHO, Tripartite. and UNEP support OHHLEP\u0026rsquo;s definition of \u0026lsquo;One Health\u0026rsquo; [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2025 May 12]. Available from: \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://www.who.int/news/item/01-12-2021-tripartite-and-unep-support-ohhlep-s-definition-of-one-health\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://www.who.int/news/item/01-12-2021-tripartite-and-unep-support-ohhlep-s-definition-of-one-health\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBerthe FCJ, Bali SR, Batmanian GJ. Putting pandemics behind us: investing in one health to reduce risks of emerging infectious diseases. World Bank Group [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 Aug 1]; Available from: https://coilink.org/20.500.12592/7bc4kj.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAkinsuyi OS, Orababa OQ, Juwon OM, Oladunjoye IO, Akande ET, Ekpueke MM et al. One Health approach, a solution to reducing the menace of multidrug-resistant bacteria and zoonoses from domesticated animals in Nigeria\u0026ndash;A review. Global Biosecur. 2021;3.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAyobami O, Mark G, Kadri-Alabi Z, Achi CR, Jacob JC. COVID-19: an opportunity to re-evaluate the implementation of a One Health approach to tackling emerging infections in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries. J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 2021;96(1):26.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLucero-Prisno DE III, Owhor GA, Olayemi A, Nzeribe E, Okeke BI. Addressing one health in Nigeria; challenges and recommendations. PAMJ-one health. 2023;10.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOkello AL, Bardosh K, Smith J, Welburn SC. One health: past successes and future challenges in three African contexts. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014;8(5):e2884.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdesola RO, Esanju DO, Gbore DJ, Akintola AA, Ayomide BB, Prisno DEL III, et al. Students Engagement in One Health Initiatives in Africa: Recommendations to a Way Forward. Strides Dev Med Educ. 2024;21(1):248\u0026ndash;54.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDestoumieux-Garz\u0026oacute;n D, Mavingui P, Boetsch G, Boissier J, Darriet F, Duboz P, et al. The one health concept: 10 years old and a long road ahead. Front veterinary Sci. 2018;5:14.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSubedi D, Gautam A, Sapkota D, Subedi S, Sharma S, Abdulkareem M, et al. Knowledge and perception of veterinary students on One Health: A first nationwide multi-institutional survey in Nepal. Int J One Health. 2022;8(1):34\u0026ndash;42.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWu C, Astbury CC, Lee KM, Gong Z, Chen S, Li A, et al. Public awareness of one health in China. One Health. 2023;17:100603.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOzguler Z, Aslan D. Knowledge and perceptions of physicians and veterinarians about One Health in Turkiye/Connaissances et perceptions des medecins et veterinaires concernant l\u0026rsquo;approche\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt; \u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;Une seule sante\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt; \u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;en Turkiye. East Mediterr Health J. 2023;29(10):767\u0026ndash;75.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eAFROHUN Students One Health Innovations Club (SOHIC) Guide\u003c/em\u003e [Internet]. Africa One Health University Network. Available from: \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://afrohun.org/students-one-health-innovations-club-sohic-guide/\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://afrohun.org/students-one-health-innovations-club-sohic-guide/\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eIntegrating One Health into medical curriculum at the University of Global Health Equity, Rwanda\u003c/em\u003e [Internet]. \u003cem\u003eCommun Med\u003c/em\u003e. 2022;\u0026mdash;. Available from: \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-022-00218-0\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-022-00218-0\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eCore Competencies in One Health Education: What Are We Missing?\u003c/em\u003e [Internet]. National Academy of Medicine. Available from: \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://nam.edu/core-competencies-in-one-health-education-what-are-we-missing/\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://nam.edu/core-competencies-in-one-health-education-what-are-we-missing/\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eIncorporating One Health into medical education: the value of systems-based, interdisciplinary training\u003c/em\u003e [Internet]. \u003cem\u003eBMC Med Educ\u003c/em\u003e. 2017;17:236. Available from: \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003e10.1186/s12909-017-0883-6\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1186/s12909-017-0883-6\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-public-health","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Public Health](https://link.springer.com/journal/12982)","snPcode":"12982","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/12982/3","title":"Discover Public Health","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"One Health, Undergraduate Students, Awareness, Perceptions, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7538380/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7538380/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe One Health (OH) concept highlights the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health. Despite its global importance, little is known about OH awareness among Nigerian undergraduates. This study assessed the knowledge and perceptions of OH among students at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Nigeria.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn analytical cross-sectional survey was conducted among undergraduate students at OAU using a semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire (Google Forms). Data collected included socio-demographics, awareness and perceptions of OH programs. Descriptive statistics summarised responses, and chi-square tests assessed associations between knowledge levels and socio-demographic variables at p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA total of 180 students participated (52.2% female, 47.2% male; mean age 22.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.9 years). Awareness of OH was limited: only 72 students (40.0%) had heard of it, and 41 (22.8%) could provide a correct definition. Social media (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;64, 35.6%) and peer discussions (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;49, 27.2%) were the primary sources of information. Knowledge levels were significantly associated with academic level (χ\u0026sup2; = 5.60, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.018) and field of study (χ\u0026sup2; = 6.89, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.009) but not with gender (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.743) or age (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.183).\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis institutional study reveals low awareness and understanding of OH among OAU undergraduates, with knowledge varying by level and field of study. While limited to a university and a relatively small convenience sample, the findings provide a baseline for future multi-institutional and stratified surveys. Integrating OH into curricula, strengthening student-led initiatives, and leveraging digital media may improve OH literacy among Nigerian university students.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Awareness and Perceptions of One Health among Undergraduate Students at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-09-30 03:35:32","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7538380/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-10-01T18:06:24+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-10-01T11:34:17+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"202987949243386727827117094348679825004","date":"2025-09-22T16:15:02+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"310936119682962085558906476818748287865","date":"2025-09-21T08:48:44+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-19T17:10:17+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"140075304992462267251057919820874265599","date":"2025-09-19T16:29:59+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"26403074164444135171924119803581432159","date":"2025-09-19T08:00:35+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-09-19T04:10:19+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-09-19T04:07:52+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2025-09-12T14:53:08+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-09-12T11:42:41+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Discover Public Health","date":"2025-09-12T10:04:31+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-public-health","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Public Health](https://link.springer.com/journal/12982)","snPcode":"12982","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/12982/3","title":"Discover Public Health","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"a58549d6-0128-4554-97c3-c662148e4a5b","owner":[],"postedDate":"September 30th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-03-16T16:16:20+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-7538380","link":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-026-01705-8","journal":{"identity":"discover-public-health","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Discover Public Health"},"publishedOn":"2026-03-15 15:59:18","publishedOnDateReadable":"March 15th, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-09-30 03:35:32","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1186/s12982-026-01705-8","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-026-01705-8","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7538380","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7538380","identity":"rs-7538380","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}