Communicable Diseases Common Among Primary School Pupils In Awka Local Government Area Of Anambra State

Abstract

This study was carried out to ascertain the communicable diseases common among primary school pupils in Awka Local Government area of Anambra State. The population of the study was primary school pupils and while the sample of the study was 100 primary school pupils drawn through simple random sampling technique. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Three research questions were formulated to guide the study. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire which was structured by the researcher and validated by two experts (one from primary education department and one from measurement and evaluation). The validated questionnaires were administered to the pupil after which data was collected and analyzed using mean. Based on the analysis the study found communicable diseases common among primary school pupils includes chicken pox, cholera, whooping cough, measles and catarrh, causes of communicable diseases includes living in dirty environment, eating with dirty hands, unprotected/unpreserved food, overcrowded classrooms and poor sanitation condition and ways of preventing the spread of communicable diseases among primary school pupils includes regular washing of hands with soap, immunization, environmental sanitation and children should avoid touching wild animals. On the basis of the findings, the study recommended that schools should make provision for sanitation facilities so as to keep the school environment clean and tidy to prevent communicable diseases, government through the ministry of health should carry out regular immunization in primary schools to prevents the spread of communicable diseases among children, there should be checking of pupils from time to time for likely symptoms and quick remedial actions, children should be taught the importance of personal hygiene and teachers should ensure that children wash their hands regularly while in school.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background to the Study

The World Health Organization (2010) defined a health promoting school as one that constantly strengthen its capacity setting for living, learning and working. Such schools foster healthy learning environment.

Provision of health services and facilities like immunization, school feeding, counselling and school dispensaries are not new to Nigeria. These support services contributed to the high quality of education in Nigeria was once known for. There is a need therefore, to resuscitate the school Health programme in Nigeria and provide a legal framework for its implementation.

This school health policy is aimed at promoting the health of learners to achieve the goals of Education for All (EFA) outlined the roles of relevant ministries like education, health, environment, agriculture, water resources, information, women affairs and other stakeholders (Justin, 2013). Education For All (EFA) is the business of all. It is hoped that effective implementation of the policy and it guidelines by all, as outlined in the document will guarantee conducive school environment and promote the education of the learners in our schools.

I therefore, endorse the national school health policy and the implementation guideline in the national school health programme to be supported and implemented by all stakeholders for the realization of the ideal school environment of our dream and for the benefit of our children.

School is an institution for educating learner. In the context of this policy, it includes Early Child Care Centers (ECCC) primary and secondary schools and Non-Formal Education(NFE).

School community refers to all the people living or working within the school premises including pupils/students, the teaching and non-teaching staff as well as members of their families. According to World Health Organization (2010), health is the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of diseases or infirmity.

Services is a system or arrangement that supplies public needs. It could be organized by an individual, group or the government (John, 2014).

School health programme according to Raymond (2013), is a series of harmonized, protects or activities in the school environment for the promotion of the health and development of the school community.

In this era of technological advancement, there is a possibility for a fast association of knowledge in all fields of human endeavors.

The health care delivery system of Awka North local government is being geared towards aligning with the national goals on health   for all. One way of achieving this goal is through the education of primary school pupils on better health care. This is certainly one of the domain of physical and health education. Health education is designed for primary school level to educate the pupils about common diseases in our immediate environment and their prevention. Also, health education can bridge the gap, reduce some of our environmental hazards for the welfare of every citizen. It is well known that children are exposed to various hazards of communicable diseases. It is necessary to guide the children from these diseases. Therefore, the teacher should be very much concerned with the health welfare and survival of the pupils. Communicable diseases in the past have been endemic and now it has become spondaic because of the awareness of this study. As the name implies, communicable disease is derived from the combination of two words; communicable and disease. Communicable disease is an illness that can be exchanged, shared, transmitted and imparted (Jude, 2012).

Communicable diseases are diseases which are communicated from one person to another or animal to man through personal contact like water, dust or the use of personal belongings (Ahmed, 2011). Some communicable diseases common in primary schools includes chicken pox, cholera, measles, whooping cough, poliomyelitis and so on. The research intended to carry out the overview of communicable diseases common among primary school pupils. It is also intended to give advice and suggestions to teachers in primary schools in particular on how to prevent the spread of communicable diseases among the pupils in primary schools in Awka North local government.

• Statement of the Problem

This research intended to carry out an overview of communicable diseases common among primary school pupils in Awka North local government area. The researchers intended to do this under the following statement of the problems:

1. Communicable diseases common among primary school pupils in Awka North local government.
2. Cause of communicable diseases among primary school pupils in Awka North.
3. How the spread of communicable diseases can be prevented

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to find out the communicable diseases common among primary school pupils in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State. Specifically, the study seeks to find out the:

1. Communicable diseases common among primary school pupils in Awka North.
2. Causes of communicable diseases among primary school pupils in Awka North.
3. Ways of preventing the spread of communicable diseases among primary school pupils in Awka North.

   1.4 Significance of the Study

The importance of this study cannot be over-emphasized.

1. The study would be of greater help to the ministry of health and the government.
2. It will help the teachers and pupils to be aware of the common communicable diseases in primary schools in Awka North with the view of preventing the spread of such diseases.
3. It will also be beneficial to teachers to prevent the crowdy classrooms in order to give room for ventilation.
4. It will help the teachers to care about the health of the pupils and to know how to treat the infected pupil.
5. It will help in continuous training of teachers on diseases control.

1.5 Research Questions

The following questions were formulated tom guide the study:

1. What are the communicable diseases common among primary school pupils in Awka North?
2. What are the causes of communicable diseases among primary school pupils in Awka North?
3. What are the ways of preventing the spread of communicable diseases among primary school pupils in Awka North?

Pages:  40

Category: Project

Format:  Word & PDF               

Chapters: 1-5                                          

Source: Imsuinfo

Material contains Table of Content, Abstract and References.