JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (JOPER)
VOL. XIII, NO. 1, PP 1762 – 1767, AUGUST, 2007. PUBLISHER DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION,
OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, ILE-IFE, OSUN STATE,
NIGERIA
STUDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE ABOUT
THE
MEANING OF HIV/AIDS
BY
O.L. Olaitan (M.Ed)
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION,
UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, KWARA STATE,
NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
This study investigated knowledge of meaning of HIV/AIDS among students
of tertiary institutions in Kwara State Seven hundred subjects were sampled
from the five selected tertiary institutions in Kwara State. An instrument
tagged knowledge of HIV/AIDS Questionnaire (KHAQ) was used to gather
data for the study. A hypothesis formulated was tested using t-test at 0.05
level of significance. The findings revealed that there was no significant
difference between male and female students of tertiary institutions in
Kwara State on their knowledge of the meaning of HIV/AIDS. Based on the
major findings, the researcher recommended that AIDS education should be
incorporated in the school curriculum. Also, more and adequate information
on knowledge of meaning of HIV/AIDS should be made available to the
students of tertiary institutions in Kwara State through Information
Technology and Health Education campaigns.
INTRODUCTION
HIV/AIDS is an unprecedental public health problem facing the entire
world. Confirmed cure is neither in sight nor reliable vaccine likely for
several years. The only means of curbing the disease is health education,
thereby making the infection with HIV/AIDS an urgent problem worldwide
with medical, social and economic implications. Mann (1997) said, AIDS
was first discovered in the USA in 1981. He further stressed that,
retrospective studies indicated that the first cases might have occurred there
early as 1978. The geographical and biological origins of the virus causing
the disease are not clear. However, it appears that this virus is first of it kinds
in modern history that has spread widely among human population (Olaleye,
2000).
2
Orubuloye (1990) emphasized that, in Nigeria, heterosexual intercourse is
the predominant mode of transmission. Fawole, et al (1999) opined that
adolescents are also a group of high risk in the rapidly growth HIV.AIDs
pandemic. This is because an adolescent is a time of rapid growth and
development, it is also the time of sexual maturity and the initiation into
sexual activity. These author further said that during this period, youths learn
to control their lives and make independent decisions. They try out
experiences for the first time, and this is often the time for sexual
experimentation by some youths. It is often, however, accompanied by lack
of knowledge and skill to make healthy choices.
Another group at high risk of HIV/AIDS infection according to AlOwaish, et al (2005) include, those with prior history of sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs). Screening high risk individuals, such as STD patients, is
useful since the related counseling may change their behaviour and keeps
them free of HIV infection (Nurse Practitioner, 2005).
Nowadays, it is worthy of knowledge to know that, HIV/AIDS spares
no professional, racial or religious groups, it attacks actors, actresses,
doctors, nurses, laboratory staff, lawyers, teachers, as well as politicians,
civil servants, businessmen, sports men and women, and even students, who
are leaders of tomorrow. Hence, the need as a matter of urgency to create
3
avenue to have knowledge of HIV/AIDS among students with the view to
eliciting positive behavioural changes towards the people who were affected
with HIV/AIDS and to involve in health education and promotion in help
reduce the rate at which this disease is rapidly growing in our society.
HIV connotes human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that
causes acquire immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). There are two types of
HIV; they are HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV destroys the body’s immune system
leaving the body open to infections that it cannot fight in the normal way,
when this happens, a person has AIDS (Rosserr, 2006).
Olaleye (2000) said that, the two major types of HIV-1 and HIV-2
could be distinguished genetically and antigenically. He further stressed that,
by the last count, at least 12 HIV-1 subtypes and 5 HIV-2 subtypes have
been registered with the Gene-Bank. The viruses are highly heterogenous in
a variety of biologic, serologic and molecular features. These include:
Cellular tropism: Replication kinetics: Level of virus production: Cytopathic
effects: Plague or Syncytium-forming ability: Latency: Sensitivity of
neutralizing or enhancing antibodies and: Geretics structure. These variables
features coupled with the other properties of the virus mentioned earlier
make difficult to produce effective vaccine or therapy against the virus.
4
The origin of AIDS virus has become a matter of intensive
international debate (Health Digest, 2002). Since it was first identified in
1981, there has been a question of where it originated from: AIDS was
originally thought to originate from Haiti and later Africa (Oshuntokun,
1986). The Western World argued that, it originated from Africa because the
discovery of the AIDS virus resembles a virus found in the African green
monkeys (Achalu, 1993).
New Scientist (2001) opined that, the virus was discovered in 1983 by
Bar-sinoussi et al in France and identified as retrovirus that caused
lymphadenopathy. Achalu (1993) intensified that, Soviet Union (Russia) is
convinced that AIDS originated from America, claiming that AIDS virus
was the product of American Chemical weapon laboratory.
AIDS is referred to as a syndrome because the range of manifestations
may include a variety of opportunistic infections, neurological disorders, and
malignancies (Prath, 2005). Churchill (2004) stressed that, AIDS is a
syndrome because of its aggregate of signs, symptoms, or other
manifestations considered to constitute the characteristics of a morbid entity;
used especially when the cause of condition is unknown. AIDS is a sexually
transmitted disease; it can be passed from woman to man, from man to
woman, and from man to man (Royce, et al. 2005). AIDS is a deadly disease
5
and the majority of people who become infected with HIV will develop
AIDS or dementia or associated neurological diseases within 10 years
(Katona, 2003).
There is the concern today in Nigeria society about the high
prevalence of HIV/AIDS among young and old, male and female, married
and singles, most especially among students. The incidence of these
problems has been attributed to lack of knowledge of HIV/AIDS among
students. Hence, the major problem for this study will be to find out the
general knowledge of HIV/AIDS among general knowledge of HIV/AIDS
among students of tertiary institutions in Kwara State.
Research Questions
Do students of tertiary institutions in Kwara State have knowledge of
meaning of HIV/AIDS?
To guide the study the hypothesis: There will be no significant
difference between the knowledge of meaning of HIV/AIDS among male
and female students of tertiary institutions in Kwara State was generated.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
A descriptive survey research method was used to achieve the purpose
of the study. Isaac (1972) defined a descriptive survey research as the study
of existing conditions by collecting and analyzing data, and arriving at some
6
conclusions and recommendations. This research was specifically designed
to seek information on knowledge of meaning of HIV/AIDS among student
of tertiary institution in Kwara State.
For this study, the population comprised all the students of tertiary
institutions in Kwara State. The researcher used only the year three students,
and the research was based on the approximate population of all the ‘year
three’ students of all the tertiary institutions in Kwara State regardless of
their sexes. The total population of the ‘year three’ students of these
institutions was 6,850. In order to avoid interference and bias proportionate
sampling technique was used to select a total number of seven hundred
students. This number represented 10.2% of the total population of the ‘year
three’ students of all the selected tertiary institutions for the study in Kwara
State.
The researcher constructed instrument tagged knowledge of
HIV/AIDS.
Questionnaire (KHAQ) as the main instrument for the study. It
consisted or structured items eliciting information from respondents on their
knowledge of meaning of HIV/AIDS.
The data collected were analysed using mean scores, percentages and
standard deviation. These were further being presented in tables. The t-test
7
statistical method was used to test the hypothesis formulated for this study at
= 0.05 level of significance.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Tables one and two dealt with the bio-data of respondents i.e. Age and Sex.
TABLE AGE OF RESPONDENTS
Frequency
Total
Percentage
(%)
Age
Male
Female
16-20yrs
39
32
71
10.1
21-25yrs
65
57
122
17.4
26-30yrs
107
85
192
27.4
31-35yrs
99
68
167
23.9
36-40yrs
44
40
84
12.0
41yrs & above
36
28
64
9.2
Total
390
310
700
100
Table 1 showed that 27.4% of both male and female and female students in
Tertiary Institutions in Kwara State were between 26 and 30years of age,
while 23.9% were between 31 and 35years, 17.4% between 21 and 25years,
8
12% between 36 and 40years, 10.1% between 16 and 20years and 9.2%
were within the range of 41years and above.
TABLE 2: SEX OF RESPONDENTS
Sex
Frequency
Percentage (%)
Male
390
55.7
Female
310
44.3
Total
700
100
Table 2 showed that 55.7% of the students in the population used for the
study were males, while 44.3 were females.
TABLE 3: STUDENTS’ RESPONSES ON KNOWLEDGE OF
MEANING OF HIV/AIDS
Item
Frequency
Percentage
%
Positive
Negative
Positive
Negative
Q1
567
133
81.0
19.0
Q2
630
70
90.0
10.0
Q3
501
199
71.57
28.43
Q4
415
285
59.29
40.71
Q5
460
240
65.72
34.29
Q6
419
281
59.86
40.14
Mean (X)
489.67
201.33
71.242
8.76
9
TABLE 4: HYPOTHESIS 1 TESTING ON KNOWLEDGE OF
MEANING OF HIV/AIDS BY SEX
N = 700
VARIABLES Mean (X)
SD
Calc. t value Decision of Ho
Male
16.17
4.12
0.284
Female
16.85
4.21
a = 0.05
Accepted
Critical T.value = 1.960
Since the calculated value of 0.284 was less than the critical value of
1.960 at the significant level of 0.05, the null hypothesis was therefore
accepted. This means that there was no significant difference between male
and female students of tertiary institutions in Kwara State on their
knowledge of meaning of HIV/AIDS.
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
The analysis revealed that students had knowledge of the meaning of
HIV/AIDs as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, this is in line with
Giraldo (2002), Chin (2004) and Olaleye (2000) that AIDS means Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
So
also,
they
had
knowledge
that
HIV
means
Human
Immunodeficiency virus, this was in line with that Achalu (1993) who said
that HIV means Human Immunodeficiency virus. They were knowledgeable
10
that AIDS virus resembles a virus found in African green monkeys, this
conformed with Achalu (1993) that, the western world argued that, it
originated from Africa because the discovery of the AIDS virus resembles a
virus found in the African green monkeys. They were knowledgeable that
AIDS might develop into mental illness, this was supported by Katona
(2003) that AIDS is a deadly disease and the majority of people who become
infected with HIV will develop AIDS or dementia or associated neurological
diseases within 10 years. Some of them had knowledge that AIDS however,
is not a new disease, this is contrary to Oshuntokun (1986) that AIDS virus
was first identified in 1981, but in line with Maggiore (2006) that AIDS is a
new name given by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to a collection of
29 familiar illnesses and conditions including yeast infection, herpes,
diarrhea some pneumonias, certain cancers, salmonella and tuberculosis.
And they were knowledgeable that AIDS is a syndrome, this was in line
with Prath (2005) that AIDS is referred to as a syndrome because of the
range of manifestations might include a variety of opportunistic infections,
neurological disorders and malignancies. Also, Churchill (2004) stressed
that AIDS is a syndrome because of its aggregate of signs, symptoms or
other manifestations.
11
Through the data analysis, the respondents have generally good
knowledge of the meaning of HIV/AIDS. In the hypothesis testing however
it was shown that no significant difference existed in the knowledge of both
male and female on the meaning of HIV/AIDS. This might be due to the fact
that, both male and female students were exposed to the same environment
and academic curricula.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
It was concluded that the subjects had better knowledge of the
meaning of HIV/AIDS.
On the basis of the researcher findings it is hereby recommended that,
more and adequate information knowledge about HIV/AIDS should be made
available to the students of tertiary institutions in Kwara State and the entire
populace gardless of age, sex, marital status, religious group, occupation,
etc. also, Health Education as a subject should be intensified in our primary
and secondary schools in Nigeria.
12
REFERENCE
Achalu, E.I. (1993). AIDS and other sexually transmitted disease: what
everyone should know (2nd eds.), Lagos: Simarch Nigeria. Lt.d.
Al- Owaish, R.A.Anwar, S. Sharma, P. & Shah, SF (2000), HIV/AID
prevalence among male patients in Kwuwait. Saudi Medical Journal.
September, 21, 9:852-859
Chin J. (1991). Present and future dimension of the HIV/AIDS pandemic:
Science Challenging AIDS Proc. 7th Int. Conference on AIDS
Florence, Based: Karger PP 33-50.
Churchill, L. (1989). Churchill’s Illustrated medical dictionary (2nd eds.)
New York: Churchill-Livingstone publishers.
Fawole, O.I: Asuzu, M.O. & Oduntan, O. (1999) Survey of knowledge,
attitudes and sexual practices relating to HIV infections/AIDS among
Nigerian secondary school students. African Journal of Reproductive
Health, 3, 16-23.
Health Digest (2002). AIDS: Is there a cure? Health Digest. 2, 2 3, 12.
Isaac, S. (1972). Handbook of research and evaluation. Publication
Quarterly, 42, 164-172.
Katona, C.L.E. (2003). Dementia Disorders: Advance and prospects: AIDS
and Dementia (8th Eds.), London: Chapman & Hall Ltd.
Maggiore, C. (2006), What if everything you thought you knew about AIDS
was wrong? (4th eds.), California: The American Foundation for
AIDS Alternative publishers.
Mann, J. (1997). AIDS, World Health Forum, 8, 361-370.
New Scientist (2001). AIDS as a Retrovirus, New Scientist 8, 49-59.
13
Nurse practitioners (2005), Sexually transmitted diseases and HIV infection.
Clinicians
handbook
of
clinical
preventive
services.
Nurse
Practitioners, 20, 66-71.
Olaleye, O.D. (2000). The HIV/AIDS plague: A threat of continuous human
existence, A monthly guest lecture. Faculty of veterinary medicine,
University of Ibadan, Ibadan. March 29.
Orubuloye, I.O.; Oadawell J.O. & Cadwell, P. (1990). Changes in nature and
levels of sexual networking in an African society: A destabilization of
the traditional Yoruba system. Health Trans Review. 5, 35, 12-16.
Oshuntokun, B.O. (1986). HIV and AIDS: Healthcare 1, 16.
Pratt, R.J. (2005). HIV and AIDS: A strategy for nursing care. (4th eds.).
London: Edward Arnold publications.
Royce, R.A.; Sena, A; Cates, W & Cohen M (2005). Sexual transmission of
HIV, New England Journal of Medincine, 15, 1075-1078.
Warden, M.H. (1992). Epidemiology of AIDS. WHO-EM/AIDS. 14-E.
WCTO/WHO/UNESCO/ILO (1995). Consensus statement on AIDS
in schools. World Conmsultation of Teachers’ Organisation (WCTO)
in Association with World Health Organisation (WHO), United
National Educational Scientific & Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
and International Labour Organisation (ILO), 3.
WHO (1994). HIV and infant feeding: Essential issues for decision making
(Draft Policy Guidelines) Geneva: World Health Organisation
(WHO).
WHO/UNAIDS (1997), Revised recommendations for the selection and use
of HIV antibody tests. Weekly Epidemiology Record. 72, 2, 81-88.
14
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL STUDIES (AJES)
VOL. 4, NO. 1, PP. 134 – 140. MARCH, 2006 PUBLISHER.
THE FACULTY OF EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF
BOTSWANA, GABORONE, BOTSWANA
HEAD LICE INFESTATION AMONG
PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN IBADAN
OYO STATE, NIGERIA
____________________
Olaitan, O. Lanre
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION,
UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN,
KWARA STATE, NIGERIA
15
ABSTRACT
The study was to determine the incidence of head lice infestation among
primary school children in Oyo State, Nigeria. A total of 360 pupils were
chosen as subjects from 12 primary schools in Ibadan, Oyo State using a
proportional random sampling technique, while a structured questionnaire
was used as the tool for gathering data from the subjects. Research
hypotheses formulated were analyzed using inferential statistics of chisquare (X2) at α = 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that head
lice infestation prevailed among primary school children in Oyo State, and
the prevalence was influenced by sex, family size, working parents, and the
number of rooms in the family residence. It was recommended among others
that, parents should always take good care of their children’s personal
hygiene, teachers should involve in health inspection of the school children
and government should establish a school to help in monitoring the health
status of the school environment and the school children.
Introduction
Head louse infestation is an infestation of the head with pediculus
humanus var capitis (Cumbescot, 2000). The insects are harbored on the
scalp and may lead to severe itching. The intense scratching may cause
excoriations, secondary bacteria infection, oedema and adenopathy. Also,
they may transmit serious epidemic diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench
fever and relapsing fever (Benenson 1998). Pediculosis also has social and
psychological impact on infested children and their parents. Such an impact
leads to restraint in seeking advice from healthcare providers, which leads to
underestimation of the magnitude of the problem. Juranek (2000) asserted
that outbreaks of pediculosis generally takes place during periods of
16
economic crisis or wars, as happening in the second world war, pediculosis
was rare in the post second world war period but since 1970s it has increased
considerably Sarov, Neuman & Herman, (2004); Chunge (2004); Sinniah,
Sinniah & Rejeswar (2003) and Dagnew & Erwin (1991) reported that sex
influences head lice infestation with higher prevalence in girls than boys.
But lack of significant association between sex and head lice infestation was
reported in three countries, Kenya, Saudi Arabia and Israel (Chunge, 2004,
Boyle, 2003 Mumcuoglu, Kiaus & Kafka (1994). Ramussen (2004)
highlighted that lice are spread more rapidly in large families living in
crowded conditions where bed-sharing and poor hygiene exist. While
Tampline, Nash & Almond (1991) reported that most children with head lice
infestation are children of working parents. They further said that most
parents are too busy and occupied due to their job schedule. Significant
relationships between head lice infestation and crowding was reported by
many workers (Sarov, Neuman & Herman, 2004; Sulaiman & Fatima, 1988;
Sinniah, Sinniah & Rejewari, 2003; Sulaman & Jabeen, 1989, and Ray &
Tandon, (2000).
Purpose of the Study
The study was to investigate the prevalence of head lice among
primary school children in Oyo State, Nigeria.
17
Research Questions
1. What is the prevalence of head lice infestation among the urban and
rural primary school children in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria?
2. What is the prevalence of head lice infestation among primary school
boys and girls in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria?
3. Does family size have any effect on the prevalence of head lice
infestation among primary school children in Ibadan, Oyo State,
Nigeria?
4. Does mother’s occupation have any effect on the prevalence of head
lice infestation among primary school children in Ibadan, Oyo State,
Nigeria?
5. Does number of rooms in the family residence have any effect on the
head lice infestation among he primary school children in Ibadan, Oyo
State, Nigeria?
Research Hypotheses
1. There is no significant effect of family size on the prevalence of head
lice infestation among primary school children in Ibadan, Oyo State,
Nigeria.
18
2. There is no significant effect of mother’s occupation on the
prevalence of head lice infestation among children in Ibadan, Oyo
State, Nigeria.
3. There is no significant effect of the number of rooms in the family
residence on head lice infestation among primary school children in
Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Methodology
The study area is located within Ibadan, the largest city in Nigeria.
The population of the study area is a heterogeneous group of both urban and
rural people. It is a developed area with a mixture of all socioeconomic
hierarchies of Nigeria. The rural area is referred to as less-city without pipeborne water supply, no standard government hospital, no access to telephone
services of any network and with not more than one secondary school. While
the urban area is totally served by public water distribution and partially by
liquid waste disposal systems and can be considered a good representative of
the Nigerian population. Twelve primary schools were sampled, 6 each from
both urban and rural areas. Thirty pupils in each of the 12 schools were
examined for head lice with a total number of 360 pupils. A team consisting
of a Health Educator, 2 Nurses and 2 Sanitarians examined the children.
19
Children were examined within their schools. The standard examination
procedure was performed according to Andrews & Tonkin (1999).
A purposely designed, structured questionnaire was completed for
each infested child. The questionnaire provided information on the family
size, parental occupation and the number of rooms in the family residence.
Also, age and sex of the pupils were recorded. Data were analyzed by using
percentage and inferential statistics of Chi-square (X2) for the hypotheses
formulated at a = 0.05 level of significance.
Results and Discussion
The overall prevalence of head lice was found to be 16.7% (60 of
360). The prevalence of pediculosis capitis was higher among rural primary
school children 20% (36 of 180) than urban primary school children 13.13%
this is in line with Rook, et al (2201) that prevalence of head lice was
reported to be 15.2% among school children of industrial areas in Britain. It
was higher among the rural school boys 58.3% (21 of 36), than rural school
girls 41.7% (15 of 36) also higher among urban school boys 54.2% (13 of
24), than urban school girls 45.8% (11 of 24), all these are contrary to Sarov,
et al (2004); Sinniah, et al (2003). Dagnew & Erwin (1991) that sex
influence head lice infestation with higher prevalence in girls than boys (see
Table 1 & 2 below):
20
Table 1: Prevalence of head lice among urban and rural primary school
children in Oyo State, Nigeria.
Groups
Urban No. (%)
Rural No. (%)
Total
Infested
24(13.3%)
36(20%)
60
Non-infested
156(86.7%)
144(80%)
300
Total
180(100%)
180(100%)
360
Table 2: Distribution of head lice infestation among urban and rural primary
school boys and girls in Oyo State, Nigeria.
Groups
Urban No. (%)
Rural No. (%)
Total
Boys
13(54.2%)
21(58.3%)
34
Girls
11 (45.8%)
15 (41.7%)
26
Total
24 (100%)
36 (100%)
60
In the hypotheses testing, the effects of family size, mother’s
occupation and number of rooms in family residence on the prevalence of
head lice infestation are summarized in table 3 below.
Table 3: Chi-square (X2) result on the effect of family size, mother’s
occupation and number of rooms in the family home on the prevalence of
head lice infestation among primary school in Ibadan Oyo State, Nigeria.
N = 60.
Variable
Infested %
Calc.
21
Df
Crt.
Decision
X2
value
No (fe)
Ho1
Ho2
* Family
size
<4
1 (20)
1.7
.5-8
26 (20)
43.3
>9
33 (20)
55.0
Working
4 (30)
6.7
Non-
56 (30)
93.3
1-2
32 (15)
53.3
3-4
19 (115) 31.7
5-6
7 (15)
11.7
>7
2 (15)
3.3
Value
on Ilo
28.3
2
5.99
Rejected
45.1
1
3.84
Rejected
35.9
3
7.81
Rejected
Mother’s
occupation
working
Ho3
* Number
of rooms
Total
*60
P <0.05
Table 3 shows that, in hypotheses 1, there existed a significant effect of
family size on the prevalence of head lice among primary school children in
Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Since the calculated X2 value of 28.8 is greater
than the critical valve of 5.99 with the degree of freedom 2 at α = 0.05 level,
the null hypotheses was rejected. This may be explained thus, the smaller the
family size, the less the head lice infestation prevalence within the family.
22
This is in line with Ramusen (2004) who opined that, lice are spread more
rapidly in large families living in crowded conditions, where bed-sharing
and poor hygiene exist.
Hypotheses 2 was also rejected, because the calculated X2 value of
45.1 is greater than the critical value of 3.84 at the degree of freedom 1 at α
= 0.05 level of significant effect of mother’s occupation on the prevalence of
head lice among the primary school children in Ibadan, Oyo State, this
corroborates Tampling, et al (1991) that most children with head lice
infestation are children of working parents. This may be because their
parents are too busy to take care of their children, the nature of work may
also contribute to the prevalence among the children.
For hypothesis 3, the calculated X2 value of 35.9 is greater than the
critical of 7.81 at α = 0.05 with the degree of freedom 3, thus reject the null
hypothesis, which means, there existed a significant effect of number of
rooms in family residence on the prevalence of head lice infestation among
primary school children in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. This finding
corroborates those of Sarov, et al (2004); Bhariga, et al (2002)
Awahmukalah et al (1999); Suleman & Jabeen (2003); Ray & Tandon
(2000) and Ramussen (2004) that overcrowding and bed-sharing in a room
may account for easy transmission of pedicullosis. This may be, because the
23
head lice can move freely from one person to another person through the use
of same comb, dress and other materials of such nature.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The findings of this study clearly showed that parents need to involve
themselves more in ensuring personal hygiene for their children. This is
because of the primary school children are not mature enough but rather too
young to take care of themselves. The teachers should take steps through
inspection of the school children’s healthful living, to ensure that they tidy
up their hair, especially for school boys to cut their hairs regularly, and for
the school girls to comply with the prescribed hairstyle by the school
authority. Any pupils that default should be excluded and given due
punishment, so that such pupils don’t transmit the head lice or the likes to
others.
Parents should plan their family, not to have more children than they
can cater for. Moreso, they should also take proper care of their house to
make the rooms, beds and bedding tidy and lice-free. Above all,
Government, should establish a functional school health services unit in
every school to monitor the health status of the children and even the school
environment.
24
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Chunge, R.N. (2004). A study of head lice among primary school children in
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Cumbescot, C. (2000). Current epidemiology of pediculosis capitis. Bulletin
of Academic National Medicine, 181: 331-335.
Dagnew, M & Erwin G. (1991). Epidemiology of common transmissible
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