Journal of Development Communication And Applied Theatre

Scabies infection is a highly contagious parasitic skin infestation caused by a parasite called, Sarcoptesscabiei var. hominis. Despite being a rampant burden among students of Nigerian tertiary institutions, it remains one of the neglected public health concerns, rarely explored. This study therefore investigated the effectiveness of Theatre for Development (TfD) as a participatory pedagogy for promoting awareness on scabies infection among undergraduate students at the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, Nigeria. Despite growing scholarship on arts-based health communication, theatre has not been adequately explored as catalyst for scabies awareness in Nigerian universities. The study adopted a qualitative survey design. 550 students were engaged as respondents selected through cluster sampling across different faculties: Arts (200), Management Sciences (100), and Science (250) out of a student population of approximately 13,000. Data were gathered through three sequential stages: Pre intervention semi-structured interviews, a drama skit performance created around student experiences of the infection, and a post-intervention rapid appraisal session. Data were analyzed through qualitative descriptive analysis. Findings reveal that scabies is relatively prevalent among student, and is transmitted through: sharing of personal items, poor hygiene practices, untreated water usage and prolonged skin-to-skin contact. Post-intervention follow up proved the effectiveness of drama in, increasing students’ understanding of the infection, reducing stigma associated with reporting symptoms, and encouraging behavioural changes such as improved hygiene practices and increased visits to the University health centre. The study concludes that theatre-based interventions are viable and culturally resonant complements to conventional health education within university communities, and recommends their formal integration into institutional health promotion frameworks.

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