HAND WASHING PRACTICES AS CORRELATE TO DISEASE CONTROL AND IMPROVE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS: IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATION

Abstract

This study examined hand washing practices as correlate to disease control and improve academic performance among primary school pupils. Five research questions guided the study. The design adopted for the study was the descriptive survey. The population of the study consists of all the public primary schools and 863 teachers in Ikorodu, Educational District I1, Lagos State (Lagos State Government Ministry of Education, 2021). Random sampling technique was used to select 18 primary schools out of the available 64 in Ikorodu, Educational District I1, Lagos State while purposive sampling method was utilized in selecting 10 teachers in each of the 18 sampled schools. A total of 180 primary schools’ teachers constituted the sample for the study. Questionnaire was the main instrument for data collection. The collected data was analysed using qualitative data analysis approaches which started by editing of the information obtained from the participants. Descriptive statistics, Pearson productmoment correlation and the mean rating were used to analyse the data. The outcome of the study showed that the level of awareness of hand washing practices as disease control measures among primary school pupils in Ikorodu, Educational District I1, Lagos State was moderate. The importance of hand washing practices is numerous and that the attitude of primary school pupils towards hand washing practices was positive. Also, the ideal standards of hand washing practices were acceptable. The analysis revealed that there is a positive correlation between hand washing practice and academic performance of primary school pupils. Conclusion was drawn as useful recommendations were made which include among others that teachers, school proprietors and principals should inculcate the knowledge and practice of hand hygiene in pupils.