Faculty
Year of Publication
Keyword
Publication Type
Abstract
Background: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) practices are essential for adolescent health, dignity, and academic performance. Inadequate knowledge, poor attitudes, and limited facilities in schools contribute to waterborne diseases, absenteeism, and reduced learning outcomes. Despite sensitization efforts, misconceptions about WASH remain common among secondary school students, influenced by age, sex, family structure, and socioeconomic background. Strengthening WASH education and infrastructure is critical to improving hygiene practices and reducing risks.
Objective: To assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, prevalence, and determinants of WASH
practices among secondary school students in Egor Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria, with the aim of identifying gaps and making recommendations for improved hygiene management in schools.
Subjects and Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 550 secondary school students selected through a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a pretested self- administered questionnaire and analyzed with IBM SPSS version 27.0. Associations between socio- demographic characteristics and WASH knowledge, attitude, and practice were tested using chi-square statistics, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05 at 95% confidence.
Results: The mean age of respondents was 14.05 ± 1.85 years, with females comprising 60.4%. Awareness of WASH was moderate (71.9%), with teachers (48.3%) and parents (27.0%) as the main sources of information. Good knowledge of WASH was found in 177 (46.5%) respondents, while 204 (53.5%) demonstrated poor knowledge. Age was significantly associated with knowledge: students aged ≥17 years had higher odds of good knowledge (OR = 9.52; 95% CI =3.21–28.23; p < 0.001) compared to those aged 10–13 years. Female students were more likely to have good knowledge than males (OR = 1.78; 95% CI = 1.17–2.71; p = 0.007). Junior secondary students (JSS) were significantly less likely to have good knowledge compared to senior secondary students (SSS) (OR = 0.005, 95% CI = 0.001–0.017, p < 0.001). This finding confirms that class level, reflecting both age and curriculum exposure, is a critical determinant of
WASH knowledge. Parental occupation also influenced knowledge, with students whose fathers were in skill level 4 jobs having higher odds of good knowledge (OR = 2.41; 95% CI = 1.31– 4.43; p = 0.036). Mother’s occupation showed similar associations (OR = 3.12; 95% CI = 1.45– 6.71; p = 0.004). Attitudes toward WASH were generally positive, but determinants were significant. Students with good knowledge were more likely to have positive attitudes (OR = 2.82; 95% CI = 1.34– 5.92; p = 0.006). Conversely, not living with both parents reduced the odds of positive attitude (OR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.21–0.76; p = 0.005). The prevalence of good WASH practices was encouraging but not universal. While handwashing after toilet use was common (74.8%), fewer students practiced handwashing before meals (51.2%) or recognized the need for gender-separated toilets with nearby handwashing facilities (49.3%). Good knowledge increased the odds of good practice (OR = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.17–4.19; p = 0.015), while lack of privacy in hostels or public toilets was significantly associated with poor menstrual hygiene practice (OR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.01–2.87; p = 0.047).
Conclusion: Although awareness and knowledge of WASH were encouraging, substantial gaps remain in practical knowledge, attitudes, and consistent hygiene practices. Younger students and males were more likely to have poor knowledge, while family structure and privacy issues influenced attitudes and practices. Improving school- based health education, expanding the role of health clubs, strengthening WASH facilities, and providing private, girl-friendly spaces are essential to promote safe practices, reduce disease burden, and enhance academic performance among secondary school students.
Objective: To assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, prevalence, and determinants of WASH
practices among secondary school students in Egor Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria, with the aim of identifying gaps and making recommendations for improved hygiene management in schools.
Subjects and Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 550 secondary school students selected through a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a pretested self- administered questionnaire and analyzed with IBM SPSS version 27.0. Associations between socio- demographic characteristics and WASH knowledge, attitude, and practice were tested using chi-square statistics, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05 at 95% confidence.
Results: The mean age of respondents was 14.05 ± 1.85 years, with females comprising 60.4%. Awareness of WASH was moderate (71.9%), with teachers (48.3%) and parents (27.0%) as the main sources of information. Good knowledge of WASH was found in 177 (46.5%) respondents, while 204 (53.5%) demonstrated poor knowledge. Age was significantly associated with knowledge: students aged ≥17 years had higher odds of good knowledge (OR = 9.52; 95% CI =3.21–28.23; p < 0.001) compared to those aged 10–13 years. Female students were more likely to have good knowledge than males (OR = 1.78; 95% CI = 1.17–2.71; p = 0.007). Junior secondary students (JSS) were significantly less likely to have good knowledge compared to senior secondary students (SSS) (OR = 0.005, 95% CI = 0.001–0.017, p < 0.001). This finding confirms that class level, reflecting both age and curriculum exposure, is a critical determinant of
WASH knowledge. Parental occupation also influenced knowledge, with students whose fathers were in skill level 4 jobs having higher odds of good knowledge (OR = 2.41; 95% CI = 1.31– 4.43; p = 0.036). Mother’s occupation showed similar associations (OR = 3.12; 95% CI = 1.45– 6.71; p = 0.004). Attitudes toward WASH were generally positive, but determinants were significant. Students with good knowledge were more likely to have positive attitudes (OR = 2.82; 95% CI = 1.34– 5.92; p = 0.006). Conversely, not living with both parents reduced the odds of positive attitude (OR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.21–0.76; p = 0.005). The prevalence of good WASH practices was encouraging but not universal. While handwashing after toilet use was common (74.8%), fewer students practiced handwashing before meals (51.2%) or recognized the need for gender-separated toilets with nearby handwashing facilities (49.3%). Good knowledge increased the odds of good practice (OR = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.17–4.19; p = 0.015), while lack of privacy in hostels or public toilets was significantly associated with poor menstrual hygiene practice (OR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.01–2.87; p = 0.047).
Conclusion: Although awareness and knowledge of WASH were encouraging, substantial gaps remain in practical knowledge, attitudes, and consistent hygiene practices. Younger students and males were more likely to have poor knowledge, while family structure and privacy issues influenced attitudes and practices. Improving school- based health education, expanding the role of health clubs, strengthening WASH facilities, and providing private, girl-friendly spaces are essential to promote safe practices, reduce disease burden, and enhance academic performance among secondary school students.
Supervisor(s)
co-supervisor