THE ROLE OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES IN THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF TYPHOID FEVER AMONG COMMUNITY DWELLERS IN OLOKORO COMMUNITY, ABIA STATE.

Typhoid fever remains a major public health burden in Nigeria, particularly in rural communities where poor sanitation and limited access to clean water persist. This study assessed the role of Public Health Nurses (PHNs) in the prevention and control of typhoid fever community dwellers in Olokoro Community, Abia State. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, involving 421 participants 371 community members selected via simple random sampling and 50 public health nurses through total population sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and oral interviews, and analyzed using SPSS Version 24, applying descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and Student’s t-tests. Out of the 421 distributed questionnaires, 405 were retrieved, representing a 96.2% response rate. Community awareness of typhoid fever was high (87.3%), yet gaps persisted, with only 80.3% able to recognize common symptoms. Public Health Nurses were significantly involved in health education (92%), hygiene promotion (89%), vaccination campaigns (85%), and disease surveillance (88%). Chi-square test results revealed no significant association between nurses’ experience and knowledge (χ² = 2.59, p = 0.27) or between experience and influence on the community (χ² = 2.37, p = 0.123). However, independent t-test analysis demonstrated that experienced nurses were significantly more effective in vaccination strategies compared to less experienced nurses (t = 4.15, p < 0.0001), and nurses with higher education provided significantly stronger recommendations for improving disease control (t = 5.21, p < 0.00001). Challenges identified by PHNs included inadequate resources (32%), community resistance (28%), and infrastructure deficits (22%). Despite these barriers, PHN interventions led to improved community engagement and increased vaccination uptake. The study concludes that empowering public health nurses through continuous training, better resource provision, and integration of typhoid conjugate vaccines into national immunization schedules is critical for effective typhoid control in vulnerable communities. Keywords: Typhoid Fever, Public Health Nurses, Community Health, Vaccination Uptake, Disease Prevention, Olokoro Community, Health Education, Infectious Disease Control, Health Infrastructure.