Bridging the Gap: The Role of Community-Led Science Communication in Transforming Water Sanitation Practices in Rural Taraba State, Nigeria

Effective science communication is vital for public health in rural communities, yet conventional Nigerian sanitation programs often rely on ineffective top-down models. This quantitative cross-sectional study used a multistage sampling technique to survey 320 household heads across three rural Local Government Areas in Taraba State, Nigeria. Data were gathered using a validated, interviewer-administered Sanitation Awareness and Practice Scale (SAPS) with a reliable Cronbach's alpha of 0.81 before and after an eight-week community-led science communication intervention. Analysis utilized mean and standard deviation for research questions, Pearson correlation to measure relationships at (p < 0.001), and paired-samples t-tests to test hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. Descriptive statistics and paired-samples t-tests (α = .05) revealed a statistically significant post-intervention increase in both sanitation awareness and practice scores, demonstrating measurable shifts away from high-risk behaviors like open defecation. The findings confirm that dialogic strategies outperform traditional awareness campaigns by empowering community members as active agents. Public health agencies and extension workers in Taraba State should institutionalize these participatory communication structures as standard components of rural sanitation initiatives.