Assessment of Knowledge on Effect of Environmental Sanitation Practices on Health of Secondary School Students in Ilorin South Local Government Area, Kwara State

This study assessed the knowledge on effect of environmental sanitation practices on health of secondary school students in Ilorin South Local Government Area, Kwara State. The specific purposes examined if (i) reduced water-borne disease; (ii) reduced incidence of malaria; (iii) food safety and (iv) increase in school attendance are effects of environmental sanitation practices on health of secondary school students in Ilorin-South L.G.A., Kwara State.
A descriptive research of the survey type was adopted. The population of the study comprised all secondary school students in Ilorin South Local Government Area, Kwara State. One hundred and eighty-eight (188) respondents were sampled for the study. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire which was validated by three experts and tested for reliability that yielded a correlation reliability coefficient of 0.82r and consider that the instrument is reliable. Percentage and Chi-square statistics were employed for data analysis at 0.05 level of significance.
The findings of the study were that;
i. Reduced water-borne disease is significantly an effect of environmental sanitation practices on health of secondary school students in Ilorin-South L.G.A. with calc. ᵪ2 value of 214.287> the crit. t-value of 9.49 at df 4 @0.05 alpha level.
ii. Reduced incidence of malaria is significantly an effect of environmental sanitation practices on health of secondary school students in Ilorin-South L.G.A. with calc. ᵪ2 value of 323.862> the crit. t-value of 9.49 at df 4 @0.05 alpha level.
iii. Food safety is significantly an effect of environmental sanitation practices on health of secondary school students in Ilorin-South L.G.A. with calc. ᵪ2 value of 313.649> the crit. t-value of 9.49 at df 4 @0.05 alpha level.
iv. Increase in school attendance is significantly an effect of environmental sanitation practices on health of secondary school students in Ilorin-South L.G.A. with calc. ᵪ2 value of 160.032> the crit. t-value of 9.49 at df 4 @0.05 alpha level.
The study concluded that, reduced water-borne disease, reduced incidence of malaria, food safety and increase in school attendance are effects of environmental sanitation practices on health of secondary school students in Ilorin-South L.G.A., Kwara State. Therefore, the study recommends that, the school management should install water purification system and ensure regular testing of school water sources for bacteria, viruses, and chemical contaminants. The school management should always drain stagnant water around the school and ensure regular cleaning of school surroundings to prevent water accumulation.