Health Status of Students attending a Secondary School in Ibadan, Nigeria: Implication for School Health Program

Abstract

The reasons to enforce the implementation of School Health Programme (SHP) in secondary schools are essential to ensure the overall  success. This study assessed the health status of school students as indices to enforce SHP in Nigeria. A descriptive, convenient and  crosssectional study was carried out using pretested semi-structured questionnaires and clinical examination on 1,026 volunteered  secondary school students in Ibadan metropolis between June, 2022 and July, 2022. The average Body Mass Index for students in junior  classes was 16.24±2.48 while that of the senior class students was 17.80±1.66. In junior classes, 39% of the students had adequate  nutrition while the majority 47% were malnourished, 14% of the students in junior classes were severely malnourished. Thirty-Five  percent (35%) of students in senior classes had mild to moderate malnutrition while the majority (65%) was adequately nourished. Most  (91.2%) of 135 consented students had at least one dental issue, 84% of the students had generalized chronic marginal gingivitis, 1.6%  students had chronic periodontitis, 0.8% students had dentoalveolar abscess carries, pulpal necrosis, molar hypomineralisation and  chronic periodontitis. Based on substance abuse questionnaire analysis, few students (6.3% and 1.1%) needed intensive counselling and  severe counselling respectively. Malnutrition and poor dental hygiene were prevalent among the students. Concerted effort is required to  establish counselling centres and implement SHP.