Assessment of School Health Programme in Benue South Senatorial District, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Children of school-going age constitute approximately 18% of the global population and about 23% of
Nigeria's population. The education and health of this growing demographic are critical to the sustainable development of
individuals and society. In Nigeria, efforts to implement the School Health Programme have primarily remained at the
policy level, with limited practical implementation. This study was therefore designed to assess the availability and
effectiveness of the School Health Programme in Benue South Senatorial District, Nigeria.
Methods: A comparative cross-sectional descriptive survey design was employed in 60 schools across the nine local
government areas of Benue South Senatorial District, using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected
through a structured, self-administered questionnaire and a checklist administered to head teachers, who served as
respondents. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25.0.
Results: The mean age of respondents was 45 ± 8.7 years; 71.7% were male, 96.7% had attained tertiary education,
93.3% were Christians, and the Idoma ethnic group accounted for 91.7%. Most schools (43.3%) operated only a primary
section, while 3.3% offered both primary and secondary education. Nearly all schools (96.7%) admitted both male and
female students. The average annual enrolment was 70.5 ± 49.0 students, with an average of fewer than 40 students per
class. Slightly less than two-thirds (62.9%) of public schools and 50.0% of faith-based schools had 10 or fewer full-time
teachers, compared to 47.4% of private schools. The proportion of schools with designated health facilities was highest
among faith-based schools (66.7%), followed by private (36.8%) and public schools (31.4%). Public and faith-based
schools primarily relied on water sources located outside the school premises (64.7% and 57.1%, respectively), while
most private schools accessed water from within the premises (68.4%). The majority of students in public, private, and
faith-based schools had access to one toilet for approximately every 30 students (68.6%, 89.5%, and 26.7%,
respectively). All schools (100.0%) disposed of refuse through open dumping or burning.
Public schools had the most space for outdoor games (82.9%), followed by private (57.9%) and faith-based schools
(50.0%). Overall, the implementation and assessment of the School Health Programme were more favourable in faithbased schools compared to public and private schools in Benue South Senatorial District, Nigeria