ADEKUNLE AJASIN UNIVERSITY AKUNGBA-AKOKO ONDO

STATE

FACULTY OF EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT: HEALTH EDUCATION

NAME: OGUNRO ALABA MONICA

MATRIC NO: IKR/180721045

TITLE: KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF PERSONAL

HYGIENE AMONG AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL IN

AKOKO SOUTH WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ONDO

STATE
 CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGORUND OF THE STUDY

Proper personal hygiene is an essential aspect of overall health and well-being,

especially among adolescents and young adults. Hygiene is a set of practices performed to

preserve health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "Hygiene refers to

conditions and practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases

(World Health Organization (WHO) 2020).

The concept also refers to the set of practices associated with the preservation of

health and healthy living. It is a concept related to medicine as well as to personal,

professional care and practices affecting most aspects of living; although it is most often

associated with disease preventive measures. Hygiene can also be referred to as the science

that deals with the promotion of health (Victoria State, Department of Health, 2015).

Personal Hygiene refers to all activities, actions and practices carried out by an

individual to keep the body clean and healthy. There are so many benefits attached to

personal hygiene such as prevention of diseases, quick recovery from illnesses, social

acceptance by people, emotional satisfaction and good personal appearance. Personal

Hygiene is the first step to good grooming and good health and this involves all measures

taken by individuals to preserve his or her health (Johnson, 2015). Improved standard of

hygiene will prevent health problems like dandruff, athletes foot, body odour, pin worms,

excessive ear wax, gastro-intestinal diseases (Web Health Centre, 2015).

Personal Hygiene can also be described as taking care of every part of the body

including hands, legs, teeth, ears, hair, eyes and nose. People stay healthy or become ill often

as a result of their own actions or behaviours (Leonard, 2014). Some examples of people‘s

action or behaviours that can cause diseases are: not washing hands before eating, defecating

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anywhere on the open field, not washing hands after defecating, not washing clothes

regularly and when necessary, not cleaning the mouth properly with the right materials

(Adeniyi, 1994).

Personal hygiene pertains to hygienic practices performed by the individual to care for

one‘s bodily health and well-being through cleanliness. Attention to personal hygiene will

help a person look their best, feel their best and can help in avoiding diseases. Motivations for

personal hygiene practice include reduction of personal illness, healing from personal illness,

optimal health and sense of well-being, social acceptance and prevention of spread of illness

to others. An individual‘s personality can be impaired by his failure to give proper care and

attention to his body generally (Johnson, 2015).

Good grooming implies decent clothing, well-kept hair, clean teeth, fresh breadth,

clean skin, and well-manicured nails. All these minute details about a person‘s body add up

to his level of physical health and sense of well-being. One of the most effective ways of

someone getting protected from illness is good personal hygiene (Lucas and Gilles, 2012).

This entails washing hands, body, taking good care of your ears, eyes, teeth, nails, feet and

other aspects of your body. It also involves taking care of personal effects. Good looks are

usually the result of great care and attention paid to personal hygiene. There are some

materials that people generally share with others which may be detrimental to health; such

materials include hair clippers, manicure and pedicure kits. It is important for students to be

aware of this and take necessary precautions.

Engaging in some very basic PH measures could help prevent coughs and colds from

being passed from person to person. Social aspects could be affected, as many people will

choose to avoid someone who has bad PH than tell him/her how to improve (Hygiene Expert,

2015). Personal Hygiene is personal, each individual has ways of taking care of his body,

however this should not differ too much from what is generally acceptable worldwide.

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Hygienic practices vary widely and what is considered acceptable in one culture might not be

acceptable in another. An example is the use of chewing sticks in cleaning teeth, which is

peculiar to some African countries.

Cases of cholera had been estimated as 3 million yearly (WHO, 2020) and 500

million people are at risk of suffering from blindness from trachoma globally (Centre for

disease control, (CDC), 2020). The estimated prevalence of ascariasis was 25% globally

(Haburchark, 2014). Personal Hygiene is among the risk factors for contacting the infections

among others. Good personal hygiene in relation to preventing epidemics or even pandemic

outbreaks is very significant (Lucas and Gilles, 2012). In Nigeria, five common health

problems of students are fever / typhoid (56%), headache (43%), stomach ache (29%),

cough/catarrh (38%) and malaria (40%) (Federal Ministry of Education, (FMOE) 2006). 30%

of students have low Body Mass Index (BMI), 0.2% of students have lice on their heads, 3%

of students have skin rashes, about 20% of students do not have normal visual acuity, lip

sores were observed in 0.8% and 0.5% of the primary and secondary school students

respectively, dental plaque was observed in more than 10% of students , 0.4% of students

have sores on their tongue, about 19% of students do not have normal hearing (FMOE,

2006,).

The population to be used for this study is Senior secondary school students who are

mostly adolescents. The age of secondary school students differs from country to country. It

is commonly considered to be between 12-17 years of age (UNICEF, 2015). According to

World Health Organization (WHO, 2014), adolescents are grouped as individuals between 10

– 19 years, therefore majority of secondary students are adolescents. They constitute about

1.2 billion (20%) of the world‘s population (UNICEF, 2015). In their childhood years, they

ought to have been trained on healthy practices and by the time they get to the secondary

school, they should have formed their own personal hygienic habits. Adolescent‘s health

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needs and concerns can be met through the school by educating and empowering students to

improve their practices on health. The government, parents, teachers and the students

themselves all have different roles to play in promoting PH.

A fundamental step in promoting PH among students is to first of all carry out a needs

assessment relating to their knowledge, perception and PH related practices which can be

relied upon as baseline information for action.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Several Gastro Intestinal Diseases like Diarrhea, Dysentery, Typhoid and Cholera can

be prevented through personal hygiene (Lucas and Gilles, 2012). Other conditions that can be

prevented through personal hygiene include head lice, dandruff, bad breadth, dental caries,

dental calculus, ear wax accumulation, body odour, excessive perspiration, urinary tract

infections, pin worms, impetigo, boil, ringworm, allergic reactions, body louse, ticks, black

hairy tongue, trachoma, cystitis thrush, colds, helminthic infestations and athletes foot (Lucas

and Gilles, 2012).

Before there was regular inspection of students which is no longer a common practice

(Olaseha, Sridhar and Babatola, 2003). Other barriers to control infectious diseases in the

community include inadequate sanitation, lack of knowledge about the biology and ecology

of some microbiology causing the diseases (Abdulumin, 1993). The enabling conditions for

improving the personal hygiene of students are not available in some instances. Trachoma

can be prevented by improving sanitation, reducing the breeding sites of flies and teaching

children to wash their faces with clean water. Trachoma caused by microscopic Chlamydia

trachomatis remains the leading cause of preventable blindness — with an estimated 6

million people suffering loss of sight and 146 million acute cases worldwide (WHO, 2015).

5
 There is the need to get information on the areas where the adolescents are having

problems with their PH. Some students are involved in bad habits like nail biting, sneezing

without covering their mouth, washing hands only with water after leaving the toilet and

cleaning their ears with hair pins. There is dearth of information on the present facilities that

will make the students observe their personal hygiene properly (The Nigerian Child, 2007).

Not many studies have been carried out holistically on the personal hygiene practice of

students in Nigeria; this research work is therefore designed to focus on the knowledge,

perceptions and practices of personal hygiene among secondary students in Ibadan North

West LG Area.

1.3 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of personal hygiene

among Senior Secondary School students in some selected Senior Secondary School in

Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State. The specific objectives that

guided the design of this study were to;

1. Evaluate respondents’ knowledge on personal hygiene.

2. Describe respondents’ attitude relating to personal hygiene.

3. Report respondents’ practices relating to personal hygiene.

4. Identify factors that can influence students’ practice of personal hygiene.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the level of knowledge of students on personal hygiene?

2. What is the attitude of students on personal hygiene?

3. What are the personal hygiene practices of the students?

4. What are the facilities in the School that can promote the personal hygiene of students?

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1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

HO: There is no significant relationship between the knowledge and practice of

personal hygiene among Senior Secondary School students in Akoko South West Local

Government Area of Ondo State.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The result of the study will be useful, as reference point in the design of educational

interferences aimed at training secondary school students with knowledge and skills for

taking responsibilities for their personal hygiene. Personal hygiene is comprehensive;

embracing the care of all the parts of the body, so, carrying out this study will provide a

avenue for improving the School Health Education Programmes for secondary schools in

Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State and Nigeria at large. The findings

from this study will also be useful in carrying out well planned, implemented and evaluated

School Health Programmes with personal hygiene integrated into all the stages. The outcome

of the study will also be a useful tool in promoting team work when carrying out intervention

programmes on health in Secondary schools.

Also, the outcome of the study will disclose gaps in knowledge as well as

inappropriate practices and perceptions which further research could be used to explore. Such

an exploration will have an ultimate goal of generating adequate information overtime for

guiding evidence-based policy formulation relating to personal hygiene in school settings.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Personal hygiene – Personal hygiene refers to all actions and practices carried out by an

individual, in order to stay fit, clean and healthy.

Practice - Usual way of doing something, habit and performance.

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Life skills - Acquired health education techniques or competencies for making healthy

choices and adopting

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF STUDY

The study comprises of 5 chapters. In chapter one of this study, the concepts are

introduced and the problem of the study is established with the research objectives and

questions. Chapter two of this study presents the Review of related literature while chapter

three presents the research methodology. The fourth chapter presents the results and

discussion, and the last chapter presents the Conclusion and Recommendation.

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 CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 CONCEPTUAL REVIEW

Personal hygiene (PH) is fundamental in preventing and controlling the spread of

diseases. It is also an important factor in maintaining health. According to Hornby (2014),

hygiene was defined as the practice of keeping oneself and one‘s living/working conditions

and areas clean, in order to prevent illness and diseases.

Personal hygiene involves making the body clean through – bathing, hair grooming,

care of the teeth, care of the feet, care of the eyes, care of the skin, ears, nose, hands and

nails. Personal hygiene is related to all the activities and actions aimed at preventing diseases,

staying healthy, keeping fit and recovering faster from illnesses, Hence, personal hygiene

refers to the care of every part of the body including but not limited to the hands, nails, feet,

teeth, ears, hair, eyes, and nose. One of the most effective ways of protecting ourselves and

others from illness is good personal hygiene (Better Health Channel (BHC), 2015). This

entails taking good and appropriate care of every part of our body like not coughing or

sneezing on others, cleaning things one touch when is not well, putting dirty items that

contain germs in a dust bin. (BHC, 2015). Many diseases can be prevented if students take

personal hygiene seriously. According to UNICEF (2014) in School health education

numerous studies have revealed that development of communicable diseases results from

unhygienic living or lack of hygienic precautions. Personal hygiene involves generally

looking after oneself. People often have infections because they do not take good care of

themselves physically, which can lead to emotional difficulties as well (Nardo, 2013).

Personal hygiene is one of the best and easy ways of preventing communicable diseases.

Hygiene practice is closely linked to the availability of water and sanitation facilities;

despite this, there are so many places where these are lacking and this situation thus reduces

9
the effectiveness of the personal hygiene of the people particularly students. Communal areas

which offer facilities for hand-washing, bathing and laundry may effectively encourage good

hygiene. In a study conducted by Jacobi et al (1998) Sao Paulo, Brazil, it was revealed that

94.4% of the respondents had access to water system, but 59.8% reported that the supply was

unsatisfactory.

In the peripheral of Sao Paulo, the author (Capella De Soccoro) reported that 74.0%

had problems with water supply and the effect of this was PH related problems. The health of

communities can be enhanced if they were able to protect their water sources, dispose of solid

waste and excreta sanitarily and provide wastewater drainage (Olawuni, 2007). Research has

it that despite the fact that hand washing can aid in preventing diseases, not many people

wash their hands when necessary and in the correct way (Leonard, 2014). An individual‘s

personality can also be impaired by his failure to give proper care and attention to his body

generally (Datko, 2014).

People‘s attitude towards diseases does not always lead to hygienic living. Health is

thought of merely as not being on sick bed. It is obviously more than this; therefore it is

important for students to have good knowledge, positive hygienic attitudes and habits that

will empower them to live healthy lives and so prevent absenteeism from schools (WHO,

2015). Cleanliness is often regarded as next to godliness and neglect of one‘s personal

hygiene could cause health and social problems that one may not be aware of. Bad breadth

for example is a problem which affects many people. Some people with the health related

challenge are not often aware of it (Nardo, 2015).

When students are provided with things needed to practice personal hygiene,

including skills and necessary information, they will become empowered to put into practice

hygienic habits that will promote their health (WHO, 2014). It should be borne in mind that it

is not easy to form personal hygiene habits without adequate information and knowledge of

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what it all entails. However, when students are educated on basic skills related to personal

hygiene at different stages of their lives, it will not be difficult for them to continue this

throughout life (Ademuwagun, Ajala Oke, Moronkola and Jegede 2002).

Personal hygiene instructions should be presented creatively to students; personal

hygiene for instance can be integrated and taught in subjects like integrated science, nutrition,

biology and health education. External resource persons who are specialists in field relating

to personal hygiene could be invited to discuss with students. In passing across instructions

people must be taught on issues they are already familiar with, before moving on to complex

aspects. Local resources can be used to buttress this fact (Oshiname, 2013). This is

fundamental principle of training which also applies to the provision of PH instructions.

Multiple methods like role-play, demonstration, field trips when used will make learning very

interesting. Opportunities outside the classroom should be fully utilized and teachers must

have very good social relationship with adolescent students knowing the nature of

adolescents - that they respect and confide in those who are approachable and trustworthy

(WHO, 2015).

Personal hygiene can be maintained by high standard of personal care and human

beings are aware of the importance of personal hygiene for thousands of years. The ancient

Greeks spent hours in the bath, using fragrances and make up in an effort to beautify

themselves and be presentable. Several studies have shown that it is essential that school

pupils practice personal hygiene to improve their health which will enable them learn, live,

grow and play their respective roles effectively in their various schools and communities

(WHO, 2014). At the same time good knowledge of personal hygiene by students will go a

long way in improving the health of communities. Most infections, especially colds and

gastro enteritis are caught when people passed germs from unwashed hands into the mouth

and this can be prevented through personal hygiene (Rahman, 2001). The simple act of hand

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washing for at least 20 seconds according to the United States Food and Drugs

Administration recommendations can prevent the spread of many food borne illnesses and

upper respiratory tract infections (Federal Drug Agency (FDA), 2009). Hand washing with

soap has been reported to reduce diarrheal morbidity by 44% and respiratory infections by

23% (Curtis, Danquah and Aunger, 2009).

Since the health of students will affect their performance, it is essential that

government invest a lot in improving their personal hygiene. Research carried out in both

developing and developed countries demonstrate that school health programmes can

simultaneously reduce common health problems, increase the efficiency of the educational

system and thereby advance public health education, social and economic development in

countries (Ademuwagun et al, 2002).

2.2 PERSONAL HYGIENE PRACTICES AND HEALTH

Each part of the body needs adequate care to ensure wholesome health. As defined by

WHO in 1948, health is a state of physical, social, emotional and mental well-being, not

merely the absence of diseases. So many gastro intestinal diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery,

typhoid and cholera can be prevented through personal hygiene (Lucas and Gilles,

2012).Others are urinary tract infections, pin worms, impetigo, boil, ringworm, allergic

reactions, body louse, ticks, black hairy tongue, trachoma, cystitis thrush, colds, helminthic

infestations and athletes foot (Lucas and Gilles, 2012).

The hair requires great care. It is necessary to wash the hair daily or at least once in a

week with soap and water for those styling it. Care needs to be taken on type of hair shampoo

used to prevent allergic reactions. Brushing the hair with a soft bristled brush 3 or 4 times a

day can be of help. The scalp should be oiled once a week to prevent it from getting dry.

Those involved with sports should endeavour to wash the hair after practice and games,

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especially for those with oily hair. Chemical treatment on the hair can also harm the hair

when not used properly. As with the rest of the body, the hair is healthiest when the right type

of food is eaten (Better health channel, 2015)

The human head has numerous hairs; each hair shaft has three layers, with cuticle or

outside layer protecting the two inner layers. Shining hair is a sign of good hair care because

the layers of the cuticle lie flat and reflect light. When the scales of the cuticle lie flat they

overlap tightly, the inner layers are well protected from the sun, heat, chlorine and all other

hazards that come from living in the environment. A number of health problems can arise due

to poor hair hygiene. Such diseases conditions include head lice, dandruff and seborrhoea

(Victoria State, Department of Health, 2015).

The eyes also need to be taken perfect care of as it is a sensitive part of the body

despite its size. Protecting the eyes will prolong its usage. The human eye is the organ which

gives the sense of sight, allowing people to observe and learn more about the surrounding

world. As one gets older the ciliary muscles become weakened as well as lessening of

flexibility of the crystalline lens occurs causing presbyopia. It is also referred to as the

inability of the eye to adjust for near vision and properly fitted reading glasses will solve the

problem (Parks, 2011). Some students may find it difficult to cope when they are suffering

from myopia and they are placed far away from the chalkboard. It is therefore essential for

teachers to detect early students having such defects so that it can be corrected in time. Even

people with normal vision need eye examination to screen for diseases and infection and

changes in vision (Montgomery, 2008). The various ways of taking care of the eyes include

preventing foreign objects like chemicals and dust from entering the eyes, avoiding trauma to

the eyes and desisting from the use contaminated article in cleaning the eye (Parks, 2011).

Too much use of cosmetics may provoke allergic reactions in some cases. Taking food rich in

vitamin A and yeast promotes optical health (Health facts, 2014).

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 It should be noted that children who lose their hearing faculty from infancy find it

difficult to speak properly, and could even become unable to speak. It is therefore, necessary

to keep the external organs of the ear clean and to protect the internal ear from injury

(UNICEF, 2013).

The nose facilitates breathing; it is an organ for smelling (Olabisi, 2012). The nose is

also used to detect the odour of different things. In order to prevent air-borne infections, a

clean tissue or handkerchief should be used to cover the mouth and nostrils when sneezing or

yawning. The nose should be lubricated with Vaseline or olive oil to prevent dryness and

breaking of the mucosal lining (Olabisi, 2012). It is necessary to breathe through the nose;

probing the nose with fingers or any dirty object should be avoided. Clean handkerchief or

tissue should be used to clean the nose and this should not be too often. Overcrowding and

exposure to smoke and pollutants may affect the respiratory system (UNICEF, 2014).

Oral health care is an important component of general health care (BHC, 2015). If not

cared for, oral health problems arise, for instance the combination of bacteria in the mouth,

sugar in the diet, and susceptible teeth lead to decay/cavities, gum disease and sometimes loss

of the teeth (Loochtan, 2013). Dental caries, periodontal diseases, dental calculus and

malocclusion are the main diseases of the oral cavity (Moronkola and Okanlawon, 2003).

Dental caries is caused by progressive destruction of the teeth by the plaque acid. Bacteria on

the teeth surface metabolising dietary sugars generate this acid. The plaque holds the acid in

direct contact with the tooth surface (Loochtan, 2013).

Gum disease can also be referred to as periodontal disease which is common among

people with poor oral health care practices (Loochtan, 2013). Gum disease occurs when

bacteria eat away at gum tissue, causing it to pull away from the teeth. This space between

the tooth and gum is called a periodontal pocket which traps even more bacteria. Gingivitis,

the first stage of gum disease is manifested by swollen gums, bleeding and inflammation

14
(National Institute of Health (NIH), 2012). The teeth and mouth must be brushed correctly

after every meal or at least twice in a day; that is first thing in the morning and the last thing

at night before going to bed since brushing removes plaque. When bacteria in plaque come

into contact with food, they produce acids. Those acids lead to cavities (UNICEF, 2013). In

order to promote good oral health, the tooth-brush should be replaced every 3-4 months and

tooth-brush should never be shared with others (Victoria State, Department of Health, 2013).

The skin is an important organ and should be well kept; it contains millions of sweat

glands (Johnson, 2015). These glands produce three quarts to one pint of sweat each day. In

tropical countries more sweat is produced and the perspiration increases with an increase in

physical exertion or nervous tension. An offensive smell is caused when bacteria that are

present on the skin get to work on the sweat and decompose it. This is especially so in the

groin under arms, feet or in the clothing that has absorbed sweat (WHO, 2015).

Acute allergic dermatitis is the most common dermatological disease in the primary

care clinic. Swelling and itching of the eyelids and genitals should suggest a diagnosis of

contact dermatitis (Derrick, 2008). It is necessary for students not to use any kind of body

cream or cosmetics that comes their way. Students are expected to take bath at least once or

twice a day using soap, sponge and plenty of water. A mild soap can be used, not necessarily

antiseptic soap; back brushes may be used. It is necessary to always bath after any strenuous

physical activity (Victoria State, Department of Health, Australia, 2013).

The different types of worms that can affect students with poor personal hygiene

practices include ascariasis, hookworm and tapeworm and this can occur when eggs get

ingested through eating of contaminated foods or drinking contaminated water with the eggs

of ascariasis lumbricoides. Hookworm affects people who work barefooted especially in the

farms having necanor americanus. This can pass into the soil due to indiscriminate passing of

faeces (WHO, 2008).

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 Gastro intestinal diseases occur as a result of food contamination and contamination

of water. They can also occur through contaminated fingers when hygiene is poor or

indirectly through contaminated, food, milk, flies and articles of daily use. Poor personal

hygiene-related diseases include cholera, diarrhoea, hepatitis A, poliomyelitis, salmonellosis

and typhoid (Parks, 2011).

Hand washing with soap and water is pivotal to the prevention and control of several

communicable diseases. Hands should be washed before preparing meals and after every

meal. In order to prevent diseases contacted through feaco-oral routes, hands must be washed

with water and soap after visiting the toilet and urinals (Better Health Channel, 2015). Proper

hand washing include the following actions: Washing hands with warm running water and

applying liquid or clean bar soap, running one‘s hands vigorously together for at least 15-20

seconds, scrubbing all surfaces including the back of one‘s hands, rinsing one‘s hands and

drying hands with a clean disposable towel (FDA, 2009).

Personal hygiene includes proper care of the feet. Good feet hygiene can prevent

fungal infections, warts, hammertoes and hookworms (WHO, 2008). Keeping the feet clean

and dry can help prevent foot odour and fungal infection. In addition, feet should be washed

daily with water and soap while wearing of tight socks and shoes should be avoided (WHO,

2008). According to WHO (2008), long nails should be avoided as much as possible and

teeth should not be used to cut nails. Personal clippers or new blades are preferred for cutting

nails. Good personal hygiene among students includes proper care of one‘s clothes, uniforms,

underwears, towels and handkerchiefs (Nardo, 2013).

2.3 ATTITUDE OF STUDENTS ON PERSONAL HYGIENE

Despite the fact that personal hygiene can go a long way to prevent communicable

diseases, many still do not take it seriously as they should. The reason is not farfetched.

16
People believe there are some bad habits they can get away with; therefore they do not desist

from such bad habits (Nardo, 2013). Among such are thumb-suckling, nail biting and picking

the ears with objects (Ghose, Rahman, Hassan, Khan and Alam, 2012). Some students have

perception which may not promote desirable health behaviours. For instance, some are of the

perception that the wearing of long nails improves one‘s physical appearance, little do people

realise that perceptions such as this could be harmful (FDA, 2009). The idea of going to

salons for pedicure and manicure is a habit that should be discouraged among students, unless

they carry their own kit with them (Leonard, 2014). Personal hygiene does not end at looking

good, it also aids in preventing ill health caused by diseased pathogens (Lucas and Gilles,

2012).

Lack of personal hygiene resources or facilities can prevent students from adopting

personal hygiene practices. Lack of resources such as soap and water are two of the main

reasons why children do not wash their hands (Vivas, Bizu, Nigusu, Abera, Yemane and

Williams, 2010). In addition to PH resources, it is necessary to equip students with adequate

knowledge relating to PH. Personal hygiene- related knowledge has great potential in

enhancing students‘ capacity to adopt health promoting behaviours as well as equipping them

with skills to serve as peer educators and community educators (Madaras, 1998).

2.4 FACTORS THAT CAN AFFECT SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’

PERSONAL HYGIENE

Provision of personal hygiene facilities and materials is an important factor that can

promote students‘ PH and this is the responsibility of the parents, school and the community.

Students should have access to materials needed on personal hygiene. Students need various

materials in the school as well as in the home before they can effectively carry out personal

hygiene. In the school these materials are needed - a good restroom, potable and regular

17
water supply for drinking and washing of hands and other items, personal plates, cups and

spoons, water bottles, towels or napkins and a neat and decent environment. There should

also be a recreational centre or playground that is safe and neat for the students (BHC, 2015).

Organizations can be identified that can support and assist in provision of the personal

hygiene materials for students. It is important to discover those areas of focus that will bring

greatest benefit in public health. In most of the health studies where a significant impact was

found, the provision of water supply or sanitation has been accompanied by improvement in

hygiene. Hygiene may be promoted by better access to water and sanitation (WHO, 2015). A

safe learning environment for students and a safe working environment for staff are essential.

This includes provision of safe water and sanitary facilities. Provision of school clinics, safe

and nutritious food and micronutrients to combat hunger and disease is also an important

factor in promoting personal hygiene of students (Nutbeam, 2015).

In developing countries, preventable water related diseases affect the lives of the poor.

Diseases resulting from poor personal hygiene rank among the leading causes of ill- health.

Much of this suffering is needless because health provides an effective gateway for

development and poverty alleviation (WHO 2015). So many diseases and deaths can be

prevented through simple, inexpensive measures. For example, trachoma remains the leading

cause of preventable blindness; accounting for 146 million acute cases around the world and

can be prevented through personal hygiene.

Studies have shown that school attendance by girls increases when separate latrines

for boys and girls are installed. In a school in Bangladesh where UNICEF began promoting

separate facilities in 1992 girls‘ school attendance has risen by an average of 11.0% per year.

Maintaining a high level of hygiene will help to increase self-esteem and confidence while

minimizing the chances of developing imperfections (WHO, 2015). Lack of water and

sanitation provides means for feaco-oral diseases to thrive (Park, 2011). It has been noted that

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where a community improve its water supply, hygiene, and / or sanitation then health

improves (Ghose et al, 2012). Deaths as a result of diarrhoea can be prevented through the

adoption of personal hygiene and basic sanitation ( Esrey, Potash, Roberts, & Sciff, 1990).

The simple act of washing hands with soap and water destroys different microbes

causing diarrhoea diseases by 35.0% (Batram, 2015). The use of soap and water for personal

hygiene helps prevent trachoma and scabies. Washing fruits and vegetables with good quality

water is a recipe for good health (Lucas and Gilles, 2012). In secondary schools, water supply

will be an essential factor in the students forming good personal hygiene habits which can

last for a lifetime. A study of water and sewage facilities conducted by Health Canada and the

Department of Indian Affairs examined 863 First Nations community water- treatment

systems and 425 community sewage-treatment systems. It found that vast improvements in

health, leading to economic development and poverty reduction, could be achieved by

providing native communities with a good water supply and sanitation (WHO, 2014). Parents

can rise up to the occasion to provide deep wells for schools that are not having good water

supply. Good hygienic habits are easy to adopt and maintain only if all the necessary

materials are available.

Failure to protect water and food from contamination by faecal matter and ingesting

such can cause infections (WHO, 2015). Contamination of food and water can be prevented

through good personal hygiene. When the supply of water in homes and schools is adequate

and of good quality, students will be able to take their bath easily, clean their teeth, wash their

hands and hair as at when necessary. In controlling strong odour, students have to wash daily,

when they have carried out any dirty job they should remove the fluid that is emitted from the

apocrine glands with the aid of a mild or antiseptic soap. These fluids are located under the

arms, around the genitals. (Leonard, 2014)

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 Large numbers of both urban and rural schools and health centres lack access to

facilities that can promote personal hygiene (Agbhaji, 2014). These days in Nigeria, pipe-

borne water is not a common sight. However, several simple interventions had been made

available, such as improving the quality of water in the home as well as improving hygiene

education at the household level. Poor people can take charge of their own destinies and

improve their lives by applying some of these measures (Brundtland, 2015). But they need to

know what works and how such interventions can be exploited.

Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria (2006) in National School Health Policy

emphasises the prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases,

through inspections, exclusions, educational measures, immunization, sanitation and

epidemic control. Each school building should be in line with approved standards of

sanitation. The major conditions required for healthful school environment include: location

of schools away from potential environmental hazards, protection of the school community

from excessive noise, heat, cold and dampness, provision of adequate buildings, constructed

in line with approved standards, with particular emphasis on facilities for physically

challenged learners and provision of an appropriate and adequate amount of furniture for

learners and staff. (FMOE, 2006).

Part of the School educational policies include but not limited to provision of an

adequate number of gender-sensitive toilet facilities, provision of adequate safe water supply

and sanitation facilities for the school community, provision of proper drainage and waste

disposal facilities provision of safe recreational and sport facilities, perimeter fencing of the

school, observation of Annual School Health Days, promotion of healthy human relationships

in the school community, promotion of health related-school policies, promotion of a

maintenance culture ( National Policy on Education (NPE), 2006).

20
 All external parts of the body need attention, time and care and water plays a major

role in ensuring this. To achieve international development target of halving the proportion of

people without access to improved water and sanitation by 2015, 1.5 billion people will

require access to water supply and about 2.2 billion people will require access to sanitation

facilities (WHO, 2015). Other basic facilities needed in the schools include decent

classrooms, water closet toilets, dustbins, water bowls, soaps, disinfectants, deodorants, tissue

papers, good play grounds, napkins, incinerators (UNICEF, 2008).

A variety of resources are needed in the home by students to enable them practice

personal hygiene. These include the following: uniforms, shoes, clothes, toothbrushes and

toothpastes, body cream, deodorant, disinfectants, hair cream, oil, restrooms soap for washing

hands, underwears, towels, nails cutters, bathrooms, iron, personal plates, spoons and cups. In

addition to appropriate information provided by schools, parents should make all these

materials available to them. Despite the fact that a student has appropriate information from

the school, there is still the need to have all the materials and facilities needed to promote his

personal hygiene at home. Students needs materials like toothbrushes, soap, toothpastes,

uniforms, shoes, socks and other items for good grooming (Beth and Jones, 2014).

A child‘s first contact is the parents. The life style of parents influences the lifestyle of

the child therefore if they value personal hygiene, the child will also grow up to do the same.

The attention given to the child as he/she grows up can affect his/her way of life. When the

parents endeavour to inculcate good health values into the child, as well as providing

personal hygiene facilities, he/ she is bound to practice it. There is the need for the

community to contribute its quota in the promotion of the health of students. Communities

are at the centre and recipient of many of these changes. Their active participation plays an

essential role in promoting and protecting health as we move into the 21st century

(Glaxosmithkline, 2007).

21
 For instance in Ghana, over 425 girls in about 20 communities aged between 13 and

20 have each received a hygiene kit made available by the Christian Children‘s Fund of

Canada (CCFC), a Canadian based registered charity and child centred international

development organisation. The aim of the hygiene kit is to increase personal hygiene practice

among teenage girls in primary school, junior and senior high schools and increase awareness

of proper hygiene behaviour among teenage girls within the CCFCs operational areas (CCFC,

2007). This action is encouraged, to be performed by communities especially in Africa. We

can no longer afford to ignore the concerns and needs of students, especially those specific

health problems which students face.

2.5 PERSONAL HYGIENE PRACTICES

Personal Hygiene involves personal grooming that deals with maintenance of good

personal and public appearance (Nardo, 2015). In a study done by Purdue University in 1993,

it was reported that some children who followed a rigorous hand-washing plan greatly

reduced their number of colds (Begum, 2000). Hygiene behaviours that can prevent the

transmission of water and sanitation related diseases are numerous and varied and reflect a

variety of mechanisms for interrupting disease transmissions (Bateman, 2015). Among these

are hand-washing, food hygiene, not sharing personal effects with others, vector control,

daily bathing and proper care of the different parts of the body.

Children and youth tend to respond better than do older people to health education in

the development of desirable attitudes and desirable health practices. Therefore, the earlier

that an individual learns the elements of healthful living, the more likely it is that they will be

applied (Leonard, 2014). Personal hygiene practices of the students in private secondary

schools will likely be better than those in the public secondary schools due to the fact that the

facilities in the public schools are not enough and adequate. This means that investment in

schooling should be improved and expanded (Nutbeam, 2015).

22
 A study of behavioural factors can be carried out more quickly and much more

cheaply than a health impact study, and its results would offer power to diagnose problems in

an existing programme (Datko, 2014). A programme was organized by Glaxo Smithkline in

1998. It is a simple hand washing programme that helps to save lives. The aim of the

programme was to reduce diarrhoea related disease associated with poor hygiene, and to

improve children overall health and well-being – a goal that fits perfectly with that of save

the children‘s School Health and Nutrition Programme. (Save the children‘s lives, 2014).

The promotion of hygiene is another integral component of environmental health

activities and is often included as the third part of any water and sanitation programme. It is

widely recognized that the promotion of hygiene practice must be included alongside the

provision of clean water and excreta disposal (Cairncross and Vijah, 2003). Various studies

have shown that wealth, education and hygiene consciousness/practices are associated with a

lower incidence of disease. Hence those having water and sanitation facilities will tend to

have less disease. Many studies tend to support the view that water and sanitation can reduce

the incidence of diarrhoea by about 25%. Water supply and sanitation can almost eliminate

guinea worm (White, Snow, and Kim, 2008).

2.6 SCHOOL POLICIES ON PERSONAL HYGIENE

There must be school policies on personal hygiene (WHO, 2014). Policy refers to a

plan of action, statement of ideals, proposed or adopted by a government or a political party

(Hornby, 2014). All secondary schools should have standing policies on personal hygiene of

students. These policies will enable students to see personal hygiene as a must for them. Such

policies will attract penalties for those who disobey them. School policies are those

guidelines that are provided by the school authorities that must be strictly adhered to by the

students. The policies serve to provide guidelines and regulations that will prevent

misbehaviours and unruly actions by the students (WHO, 2014). There is the need to work

23
towards a new public health which both recognises and meets the right of individuals and

communities to participate in improving health as well as providing policies that will enable

people carry out responsible and healthy actions (WHO, 2008). This emphasise the need for

policies that will make students to be actively involved in personal cleanliness and that of the

environment.

Federal school policy on personal hygiene and environment stated that school

sanitation will be unsuccessful without a sustained hygiene education, which aims at making

children value health as a desirable asset. Hand washing with soap before preparing food or

handling food, hand-washing with soap after toileting, regular bathing, clean finger nails and

tidy hair, cleanliness of uniforms, underwear, socks, no tattered or worn out clothes,

cleanliness of the school environment including the toilets, cleanliness of the school kitchen

and areas where food are stored, ensuring that food and drinking water are kept covered and

away from contaminants, usage of sanitary dustbins for refuse collection and storage in and

around the classrooms and hostels, timely disposal of refuse to final disposal site, ensuring

proper sewage management and waste water drainage. These are among the school policies

on hygiene and sanitation in the schools, but not limited to them (Nigeria Demographic

Health Survey (NDHS), 2013).

Others are ensuring the provision of adequate and functional sanitary facilities in

schools educate students on the proper use of sanitary facilities and also ensure regular

maintenance of sanitary facilities. A health promoting school will implement policies and

practices that respect human rights, and individual‘s well-being and dignity, provide multiple

opportunities for success, and acknowledge good efforts and intention as well as personal

achievements.

24
 CHAPTER THREE

3.0 METHODOLOGY

3.1 STUDY DESIGN AND SCOPE

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 5 selected Senior Secondary School

students in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State. A structured

questionnaire was used to collect data on knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to

personal Hygiene. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.

3.2 STUDY POPULATION

The study population was 25 students from each of the selected school i.e St. Patrick’s

College, Iwaro-Oka Akoko, Esedo Comprehensive High School, Iwaro-Oka, Wisdom

College, Iwaro-Oka and Olaoluwa Grammar School, Oka Akoko in Akoko South West Local

Government Area of Ondo State making 100 students. There were male and female students

in the Senior Secondary schools used for the study. Majority of them were adolescents

between the ages of 13 to 19 years.

3.3 SAMPLING TECHNIQUE

Sampling design can be grouped into two categories: Non-probability and probability

sampling. The one used for this study is Probability sampling (Akinsola, 2005). The first

stage was to define the study population after which the units of the population were listed. A

sample of the units (subset) was chosen for the study which represents the study population

(Explorable.com, 2009). The sampling was done in a way that made every student to have

equal opportunity of being selected.

25
 The sample used for this study was drawn from Stratified Sampling by dividing the

secondary schools into strata (public vs private schools) and then randomly selecting schools

from each stratum to ensure representation from all groups.

3.4 METHODS AND INSTRUMENTS FOR DATA COLLECTION

Data were collected using quantitative research instruments; quantitative data was

collected through the use of semi-structured questionnaires. Semi-structured Questionnaires

were also administered.

3.5 DATA COLLECTION PROCESS

The researcher carried out a experimental study by collecting necessary information

on the population of each of the schools used for the study and also noted the available

facilities for personal hygiene within the schools before the major data collection was done.

Data were collected in the secondary school. Informed consent form was also read and signed

by each of the participant. The data was collected at a period when the school is about to end

the session therefore the number of the pupils found in the school were not as high as

expected.

3.6 DATA PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS

Copies of the questionnaires used were checked for consistencies. They were cleansed

and sorted out. A coding guide was designed by the researcher for the different sections of

the research instruments, which was used to facilitate the coding of the data. The correct

answers by the respondents were generated and the mean scores for the knowledge,

perception and practice were recorded. The entry of the data was done; using SPSS statistical

package version 17 and Microsoft word excel 2016. Frequency tables, graphs and charts were

generated.

26
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