KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION OF SELF HARM BEHAVIORS AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN BABCOCK UNIVERSITY

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), or self-harm, is a growing concern among adolescents and young adults, characterized by intentional self-inflicted harm without suicidal intent. With approximately 17% of teenagers engaging in NSSI at least once according to the American Psychological Association. Self-harm among adolescents is a concerning behavior that can increase the risk of suicide, physical complications, and mental health issues. Due to a lack of knowledge about the risks and complications, many adolescents engage in self-harm as a coping mechanism for emotional problems, unaware of the potential consequences, including infection, permanent scarring, and worsening mental health. The study investigated the level of knowledge, attitude and perception of self-harm behaviours among undergraduates in Babcock University. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional study design. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to sample a total of 188 respondents among undergraduates in Babcock University. A structured and validated questionnaire with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.763 was used for data collection and a response rate of 96% was gotten. The respondent’s level of knowledge was measured on a 26-point rating scale, which was categorized into three, low (0-18), average (19-22) and high (23-26). The respondent’s attitude was measured on a 20-point rating scale, which was categorized into three, negative (0-7), neutral (8-15) and positive (16-20). The respondent’s level of perception was measured on an 80-point rating scale which was categorized into two poor(0-40) and good (41-80). Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS 27. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at 5% level of significance. The mean age of the respondents was 19.57±2.30years. More than half 96(51.1%) of the respondents were males, 165(87.8%) were christains,103(54.8%) were Yoruba, 78(71.4%) were in 400 level, 183(97.3%) were single, 46(24.5%) were in VASS and 33(73.6%) in White hall of residence. More than half 148(78.7%) of the respondents had average knowledge, most 128(68.1%) had neutral attitude and 172(91.5%) of the respondents has a good perception towards self-harm behaviors. There was no significant difference between the age of the respondent and their level of knowledge (r= -0.147, p=0.0043). There was no significant difference between the gender of the respondents and their attitudinal disposition (r= -0.06, p=0.473). There was no significant difference between the educational level of respondents and their level of perception (r= -0.073, p=0.33). In conclusion, the respondents had average knowledge, neutral attitude and a good perception towards self-harm behaviors. Based on these findings, it is recommended that schools should develop targeted education and awareness programs to enhance the student’s knowledge about self-harm behaviors, its risks, and consequences. Keywords: Attitude, Knowledge, Mental Health, Perception, Self-harm, Self-Harm behaviors, Undergraduates. Word count: 404