Design and evaluation of awareness sessions on cholera and bacterial infections for caritas youth

Abstract

This paper covers a project performed with Caritas, a nonprofit organization devoted to social services and community development, to educate youth about cholera and bacterial infections. Targeting 100+ Caritas youths, the project consisted of two awareness sessions, one presented in-person and the other online. In addition to promoting hygiene and sanitation practices that may reduce the risk of infection, the sessions were created to provide knowledge regarding the causes, symptoms, modes of transmission, prevention, and treatment of cholera and bacterial illnesses. Moreover, a PowerPoint presentation that included visual aids and interactive activities was used to give the sessions. Additionally, pre- and post-evaluation assessment that measured participant knowledge and attitudes regarding cholera and bacterial diseases before and after the sessions were used to assess the project's success. The pre-post-tests also gathered opinions on the effectiveness and significance of the sessions. The findings revealed a notable improvement in participants' knowledge and awareness. Those who participated expressed their satisfaction with the workshops and claimed they acquired new information they might use in order to protect themselves and their communities against cholera and bacterial illnesses. The project included the creation of a cholera prevention and awareness flyer, which provided brief and simple-to-understand details regarding the disease and its prevention. The project's findings emphasize the importance of community-based health education projects, particularly for young people.