AWARENESS AND PRACTICE OF PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGEINE AMONG PUPILS OF BULUMKUTU PRIMARY SCHOOL, MAIDUGURI

Poor health among school children is resulted from the lack of awareness of the health benefits of personal hygiene. Diarrheal diseases, skin diseases, worm infestations and dental diseases are most commonly associated with poor personal hygiene. School children mostly are enthusiastic towards playing and are careless about personal hygiene, shortage of information and practices of food. Little knowledge, guidance and attitudes towards individual hygiene such as “hand washing play a major roles in the occurrence of communicable diseases. This study is a descriptive type of cross-sectional study conducted among pupils of Bullumkuttu primary schools of Maiduguri, Borno State to assess the awareness and practice of personal and environmental hygiene among pupils of Bullumkuttu primary school Maiduguri. Data was collected from primary school pupils using a semi structured questionnaire and purposive type of non-probability sampling technique was used. The result shows that (88%) of the respondents agreed that they take bath regularly while (12%) of the respondents disagreed that they don’t take bath regularly. (75%) of the respondents agreed that brushing your teeth prevent teeth problems while (25%) of the respondent were disagreed also (84%) of the respondents agreed that good environmental hygiene protect pupils from infectious disease while (16%) of the respondents disagreed then (82%) of the respondents agreed that lack of resources such as soap and detergent can cause many diseases while (18%) of the respondents disagreed. Also 87% said that school authority arrange awareness program regarding personal hygiene. 44.64% children learned about personal hygiene from parents and about 43.63% from teachers. It can be concluded best on this research that the level of primary school pupil’s awareness on personal and environmental hygiene is high. The personal hygiene practiced by primary school pupils includes: food hygiene, oral hygiene, body hygiene, and coughing and sneezing hygiene. Also from this study knowledge and practice regarding personal hygiene among the primary school pupils is quite satisfactory. But mis-conception may exist on certain indicators of personal hygiene among the students. Both parents and teachers can play a positive and significant role to improve it further. Its recommended that The educational authorities in the state can develop and adopt policies and guidelines that will make way to have adequate access to resources, items and opportunities to maintain personal hygiene at school and home. Both government and non-government organizations collaboration may also be effective to achieve these goals.”