Knowledge of environmental health was assessed in a sample of 192 students at Ja'afaru Secondary School, Zaria, Nigeria, by means of a questionnaire. A follow-up practice survey was also administered to assess the environmental sanitation of the school and the homes of a subsample of the students. Observations were recorded on the sources of water, the methods of refuse and sewage disposal, and the hygienic condition of the toilets in both the school and the homes surveyed. The findings indicated that the students' knowledge of environmental hygiene was high for all classes and that students whose fathers had primary, secondary, or post-secondary education scored slightly higher than those whose fathers were illiterate. Analysis of the observations on environmental sanitation showed that even though the school lacked indoor plumbing on the premises, the pupils were accustomed to pipe-borne and well water in their homes. The main method of refuse disposal for school and homes was open dumping, and the main method of sewage disposal for both school and homes was pit latrines, which were dirty and poorly maintained. Although the pupils had good knowledge of environmental hygiene, inadequate opportunities and lack of sanitation facilities at school and homes did not allow them to practice the health knowledge they had acquired. Recommendations were made to the school authority to direct more effort toward providing a safe and adequate water supply, good drainage systems, additional toilets, and renovating the existing toilets. The school should also emphasize the practice of good environmental hygiene to complement theoretical input.
PIP: The objectives of the study, carried out between June and September 1989, were to assess knowledge of environmental hygiene of a stratified random sample of 192 pupils consisting of 101 (52.6%) males and 91 (47.4%) females at the Ja'afaru Secondary School, Zaria, Nigeria, and to assess the available sanitation facilities in the school and homes of a subsample. The information was obtained regarding: 1) personal data: age, sex, present class in school, total years of schooling, and family size; 2) parental education and occupation; and 3) students' knowledge of environmental hygiene. Thirty-seven (19.3%) students were in class three, 84 (43.7%) were in class four, and 71 (37%) were in class five. 28.6% of fathers and 49.0% of mothers were illiterate. 61.5% of parents were skilled workers. With respect to environmental hygiene, students had good knowledge of the subject. Most of them answered the questions correctly. Students with literate fathers scored slightly higher than those with illiterate fathers. Although 39 (20.3%) children whose fathers were illiterate got 100% of the questions correct, 88 (45.8%) children with literate fathers scored 100%. Environmental sanitation of the homes of the subsample of 54 students, made up of 26 males and 28 females, and that of the school was also assessed. 78% of the households surveyed (42) had a functioning pipe-borne water supply; 22% of households (12) obtained water from wells. 89.9% of households practiced open dumping of refuse. 70.1% of households used pit latrines for sewage disposal (and of these only 36% had toilets that were clean), while 20.9% practiced indiscriminate disposal of feces. Only 18 (33%) households had properly constructed drainage systems for wastewater, and 36 (67%) had open drainage systems. Recommendations were made to the school authority to focus more effort on the provision of a safe and adequate water supply, good drainage systems, additional toilets, and renovation of the existing toilets.