ASSESSMENT OF PERSONAL HYGIENE AND HAND WASHING PRACTICES AMONG PUBLIC SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ILORIN WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KWARA STATE
Keywords:
Personal hygiene, Hand washing, Senior secondary students, Ilorin West, Public healthAbstract
Personal hygiene and hand washing practices are crucial for preventing infectious diseases among adolescents. This
cross-sectional descriptive study assessed personal hygiene knowledge and hand washing practices among 300 senior
secondary school students in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire
captured students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices, while an observation checklist evaluated the hygiene facilities
available in the schools. The results revealed that 93.3% of students washed their hands after using the restroom,
83.3% before meals, and only 45.6% after handling money. The observation checklist showed that 95% of students
wore clean uniforms, 94% had clean teeth, and 65% had neatly cut hair. Significant associations were found between
students’ hygiene practices and factors such as sex, age, and parental occupation (p < 0.05). The study highlights the
need for improved hygiene education and facilities to promote better hand washing and personal hygiene practices
among students. These findings have important implications for school health policies and public health interventions
aimed at reducing the spread of infectious diseases in schools.
