1.1 Introduction
Personal Hygiene (PH) is fundamental to the prevention and control of communicable diseases and maintaining good health. Many communicable diseases of public health importance which affect Secondary School Students are caused by poor PH. Personal hygiene is an important global public health issue since long. Hygiene refers to practices associated with ensuring good health and cleanliness. Personal hygiene is the practice of maintaining cleanliness of one’s own body. Good hygienic care as well as practices in terms of personal hygiene contributes to a large extent on factors relating to healthful living and prevention of hazards from diseases. These health risk factors are directly related to some important daily activities implicated with worthy operational actions and obligatory responsibilities (Ali et al, 2013).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Hygiene is very old concept related to medicine, as well as to peculiar and specialised care practices related to most aspects of living. During the manufacturing of food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and other products, good hygiene is a key part of quality reassurance. It ensures that the product conforms with microbial specifications appropriate to its use. In medical terms, personal hygiene involves personal attention by an individual to prevent diseases. It also involves different habits such as washing hands, the entire body, hair care, nails trimming, clean clothing to warm and protect the skin as well as teeth brushing in effort to keep bacteria, virus and fungi away from direct or indirect contact with the body.
Hygiene refers to practices and conditions that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases. They include practices that deal with the preservation of health. Basic personal hygiene refers to the principles of maintaining cleanliness and grooming of the external body parts. It includes practices such as bathing regularly, washing hands whenever necessary, trimming of finger and toe nails, wearing washed clothes daily, washing the hair and keeping clean from lice and dandruff, brushing the teeth and caring for the gums (Seenivasan et al., 2016).
According to Seenivasan et al, (2016) these morbidities are found to be higher and more severe among children than adults. Infection and malnutrition form a vicious cycle compromising the child’s attendance and performance at school, retarding the child’s overall development, including physical, mental and social development. Lack of personal hygiene and unhygienic living conditions promote person-to-person transmission of infections and seem to be an important factor for high incidence of skin diseases, respiratory diseases, worm infections, diarrhea and dental diseases.
Ejifugha, and Ibhafidon (2014) submitted that maintenance of optimal personal hygiene has always been a challenge to adolescents in schools in Nigeria. Well groomed adolescents whose knowledge of personal hygiene taught in school and reinforced by their home orientations demonstrate a high level of personal hygiene. Personal hygiene is individualistic and depends comprehensively on the active and passive activities people engage in to promote personal hygiene. Such practices include personal actions for preventing or minimizing the effects of diseases, prevention of infection and illness and ensuring that life is safe from spread of diseases. Practically, personal health encompasses dressing and clothing, physical fitness, rest and exercise, use of cosmetics, oral hygiene and hair care. Proper maintenance of these skills can promote prevention of infections, skin diseases and strengthen body fitness generally.
The focus of good personal hygiene is to prevent diseases, injuries and other health conditions through surveillance and the promotion of healthy behaviour in aspects relevant to health. Good personal hygiene therefore forms primary health prevention strategy because it has been found to be effective in reducing morbidity and mortality especially in children (Ahmadu, Rimamchika, Ibrahim, Nnanubomom, Godiya and Emmanuel, (2013).
According to Talukdar and Baruah (2015), the role of health education programme in the school is very important for cognitive, creative and social development of children. An education regarding proper sanitation and hygiene practices are very necessary for the safe, secure and healthy environment so that every child can learn better and face the challenges of future life. Since personal hygiene habits such as washing hands regularly as well as brushing and flossing teeth can help in keeping bacteria, viruses and illness at bay, there are several health guides that can help individuals to achieve healthy goals. In the other hand, people who have poor hygiene habits such as disheveled hair and clothes as well as those with body odor, bad breath, dirty and missing teeth are often seen as unhealthy and may face social discrimination.
Therefore, in Edo State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Personal Hygiene among Junior Secondary School Students at Irrua Girls Secondary School.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the several studies have shown that poor personal hygiene contribute to cross transmission of microorganisms, gum infections, increased rate of infectious illnesses, incidence of food borne outbreaks and reproductive tract infections. These have been attributed to inadequate knowledge of personal hygiene and its practices. Personal hygiene deficiency diseases have been found to continue to be a serious public health problem in developing countries like Nigeria and people often affected are school children. Moreover, to the best of my knowledge, limited studies focused on young students have been found in the literature and there is no formal study conducted concerning personal hygiene knowledge of secondary school students.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Personal Hygiene among Junior Secondary School Students at Irrua Girls Secondary School, Irrua, Edo State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To assess the knowledge of Students of Irrua Girls Secondary School on personal hygiene;
- To examine the practice of personal hygiene in the individual levels and to intervene them about personal hygiene;
- To assess the attitude of students towards learning personal hygiene; and
- To evaluate the extent of personal hygiene practices among Students of Irrua Girls Secondary School.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What is the knowledge of Students of Irrua Girls Secondary School on personal hygiene?
- What is the practice of personal hygiene in the individual levels and to intervene them about personal hygiene?
- What is the attitude of students towards learning personal hygiene?
- What is the extent of personal hygiene practices among Students of Irrua Girls Secondary School?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant level of knowledge needed by Students of Irrua Girls Secondary School on personal hygiene
- H1: There is significant level of knowledge needed by Students of Irrua Girls Secondary School on personal hygiene
Hypothesis Two
- H0: There is no significant factor inhibiting the practice of personal hygiene among students at Irrua Girls Secondary School
- H1: There is significant factor inhibiting the practice of personal hygiene among students at Irrua Girls Secondary School
1.7 Significance of Study
This study is expected to provide important information to better understand the importance of personal hygiene. In addition, this study will contribute to school students’ health by making awareness about the bad effects of poor personal hygiene and reduce the risk associated with poor hygiene practices. The upshot of this study will serve as a controller for upcoming research in this area.
The findings from this study can provide basic and useful information for policy formulation and strategic interventions on personal hygiene among school students. The outcome of this study will serve as a guide for further research in this area.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Personal Hygiene among Junior Secondary School Students at Irrua Girls Secondary School, Irrua, Edo State.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Personal Hygiene: It is a concept that is commonly used in medical and public health practices. It involves maintaining the cleanliness of our body and clothes.
Education: It is the process of giving systematic instruction especially at a school or university.
Impact: A marked effect or influence.
Health: Health is the level of functional and metabolic efficiency of a living organism. In humans it is the ability of individuals or communities to adapt and self-manage when facing physical, mental, psychological and social changes with environment.
