Abstract

Non-Hygienic Practices and Its Implication on Students’ Health In College Of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Author(s): Adeyanju, AwoniyiBabafemi

Hygiene refers to conditions and practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases. It is important to live in an environment that is free of incidence of hazardous waste, its impacts is usually felt in all aspects of life of the individual having contact with that environment. This research examines non-hygienic practices and it's implication on students' health in College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma,Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Three research specific objectives were used alongside three research questions which have been raised with the aim of achieving the objectives. The main purpose of this study is to find out the effect of non-hygienic practices and its implications on the students’ health based on refuse disposal in Niger Delta University, College of Health Science, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The specific objectives are: to ascertain the level of awareness of non-hygienic practices among students of College of Health Sciences; to determine the reasons for non-hygienic practices among students of College of Health Sciences; and to assess the effects of non-hygienic practices among students of College of Health Sciences. The related literatures were reviewed. The researcher made use of Health Beliefs Model for which this study was based on. The target population of this study was obtained from the total population of students in the College of Health Sciences which was 2,083. Considering the population, a sample size of 336 was generated using the Taro Yamani’s formula. A descriptive cross sectional research design was used to incorporate a total of 336 respondents across the faculty of Nursing Sciences, departments of Biochemistry, Medical laboratory Sciences and Medicine and surgery. A four stage sampling technique was used in selecting respondents for this study. Also to ensure sample representativeness, the proportionate sampling was adopted in the final selection of respondents. Stage 1: Identification of the total number of faculties and departments in college of Health Sciences, a total of one faculty and three departments were made; Stage 2: Stratification of faculty and departments based on different levels; Stage 3: Proportionate sampling technique was used to select respondents from the faculty and departments; Stage 4: Systematic random technique was used to select respondents for the study. A semi-structured self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire was divided into four sections (A-D). Section A was designed to document the socio-demographic variables of the respondents; Section B was designed to document the knowledge on Non-Hygiene among the students; Section C was designed to identify the Practices Reasons for Unhygienic Practices among Students while section D was on the Health Implication of Poor Hygiene Practice among the students. In order to ensure validity of the study instruments for data collection, six subject matter experts assessed the extent to which the questionnaire measured the variables of interest.