Personal Hygiene Practice And School-Based Health Education Of Children In Anambra State, Nigeria

This study assessed the effect of school-based health education on the practice of personal hygiene by children in primary schools in Anambra State, Nigeria. Three hundred and ninety-five (395) and three hundred and ninety-eight (398) primary school pupils randomly recruited as intervention and control groups were rated on five key personal hygiene practices before, immediately after and three months after school-based hygiene health education. Less than 45% were rated clean before health education in both groups. Immediately after health education, more than 65% in the intervention group were rated clean. There was no change in the control group. The difference was statistically significant. However, there was a statistically insignificant decline in those rated clean three months after cessation of health education. The school-based health education improved the personal hygiene practice of the pupils. There is a need for regular reinforcement to sustain the gains.