Effects of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) education on lower basic pupils’ health practices in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State

Abstract

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) are issues that affect the health of every person in the world, everyone needs clean water to drink and a safe place to urinate and defecate. Studies have shown that most primary schools in the country lack good toilet facilities, access to good water, and they lack the requirements needed for health practices. Poor WASH practice or education can impair health, reduce life expectancy and cause gender inequality and also contribute to poor social-economic development. It is on this note that the researchers examined the effects of WASH education on lower basic pupils’ health practices in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State. Pre-test, post-test, control group quasi-experimental design was used for the study. Stratified random sampling technique was used was used to select the schools where the research was carried out into public and private schools. Purposive sampling technique was used to select four (4) primary schools two public and two privates in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State. These schools were randomly assigned to an experimental groups and control groups respectively. Seven hypotheses were formulated; two instrument were used titled Pupils Health Practices Rating scale (PHPRS) with reliability coefficient of 0.75, one treatment package was used, Instructional Guide for Water Sanitation and Hygiene (IGWASH). Frequency counts, mean and percentage were used for demographical data of the participants while research hypotheses were tested using the Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) all at 0.05 level of significance. The study showed that there was a significant main effect of treatment on pupils’ health practices in Asa Local Government Area; (F(1,63) = 30.29; p< 0.05; ɳ2 =0.33), there was a significant main effect of gender on pupils’ health practices in Asa Local Government Area; (F(1,63) = 7.54; p<0.05; ɳ2 = 0.107), there was no significant main effect of school type on pupils’ health practices in Asa Local Government Area; (F(1,63) = 0.51; p> 0.05; ɳ2 = 0.008), there was a significant interaction effect of treatment and gender on pupils’ health practices in Asa Local Government;(F(1,63) = 8.10; p< 0.05; ɳ2 = 0.114), there was no significant interaction effect of treatment and school type on ,pupils’ health practices in Asa Local Government Area; F(1,63) = 0.17; p> 0.05;ɳ2 = 0.003), there was no significant interaction effect of gender and school type on pupils’ health practices in Asa Local Government Area; (F(1,63) = 1.38; p> 0.05; ɳ2 = 0.021) and there was a significant interaction effect of treatment, gender and school type on pupils’ health practices in Asa Local Government Area (F(1,63) = 3.85; p< 0.05; ɳ2 = 0.058). The study concluded that Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) are to be reckoned with if pupils’ health practices must be improved. It was, therefore, recommended among others that teachers should always carry out WASH education where necessary to promote good health practices among pupils; Government and private body should train Early childhood educators on effective procedures for WASH education in their schools by organizing extensive seminars and workshops. This will assist in improving pupils’ health practices.