Assessment of the Practice of School Health Services among Primary Schools in Ilorin Metropolis Kwara State Nigeria

Abstract

Background: School Health Services (SHS), is an essential component of the school health programme. It ensures the achievement of Education for All (EFA); inclusive of children with special needs. Objective: This study aimed to assess the current practice of SHS among primary schools in north-central Nigeria Method: The study adopted a cross-sectional design. It was carried out in 128 primary schools comprising 64 private and 64 public schools in Ilorin, Nigeria. The School Health Programme Evaluation Scale (SHPES), self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain data. The data collected on the questionnaire was appropriately verified and computed for analysis. Result: One hundred and seven schools met the minimum acceptable score of 19 in SHS Conclusion: From our assessment, the majority of those who met the minimum score were private schools. Hence, private schools performed better than public schools in practicing school health services.

Full text

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume VI, Issue VII, July 2022|ISSN 2454-6186
www.rsisinternational.org Page 794
Assessment of the Practice of School Health Services
among Primary Schools in Ilorin Metropolis Kwara
State Nigeria
Olabimpe Kofoworade1, Olanike Oladibu2*, Samson Ojedokun3, Adedayo Kofoworade4, Mohammed Abdulkadir5,
Omotayo Adesiyun6, Ayodele Ojuawo7
1Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo state Nigeria.
2, 3LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo state Nigeria.
4, 5, 6, 7University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara state Nigeria.
*Corresponding Author
Abstract: Background: School Health Services (SHS), is an
essential component of the school health programme. It ensures
the achievement of Education for All (EFA); inclusive of children
with special needs.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the current practice of SHS
among primary schools in north-central Nigeria
Method: The study adopted a cross-sectional design. It was
carried out in 128 primary schools comprising 64 private and 64
public schools in Ilorin, Nigeria. The School Health Programme
Evaluation Scale (SHPES), self-administered questionnaire was
used to obtain data. The data collected on the questionnaire was
appropriately verified and computed for analysis.
Result: One hundred and seven schools met the minimum
acceptable score of 19 in SHS
Conclusion: From our assessment, the majority of those who met
the minimum score were private schools. Hence, private schools
performed better than public schools in practicing school health
services.
Keywords: school health program, school health services, primary
school health services, health education, private schools, public
schools, Ilorin Nigeria
I. INTRODUCTION
national study of the school health system conducted by
the World Health Organization WHO, in collaboration
with the Federal Ministry of Health and Federal Ministry of
Education, revealed that health care services in schools were
sub-optimal. [1], [2]
School Health Services (SHS) - an important component of
the school health program (SHP) - is directed at the well-being
and health of the school community. [3] They are preventive
and curative services provided for the promotion of the health
status of learners and staff. The purpose of the SHS is to help
children at school to achieve the maximum health possible, for
them to obtain full benefit from their education. The specific
services include school medical examination, health clinics,
school meals, food hygiene, control of communicable
diseases, and play activities.[2] – [4]
Effective SHP can limit conditions, like stunting, diarrhoea
and helminthic infections, malaria, and tuberculosis that are
capable of causing physical growth retardation and cognitive
impairment in school-age children. [5], [6] Besides
augmenting the care of the pupils, effective SHP also helps to
increase school attendance and improve the academic
performance of the pupils. It also decreases school drop-out
rates. [1], [7], [8] Despite its numerous advantages, however,
an effective school health program is lacking in most schools
in Nigeria. [1], [9]
In 2001, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal
Ministry of Education in collaboration with WHO took the
initial step, by conducting a Rapid Assessment of the School
Health System in Nigeria to ascertain its status. The
assessment noted several health problems among learners; the
lack of health and sanitation facilities in schools, and the need
for urgent action in school health; in 2006, a national health
policy was formulated in an attempt to improve SHP in
Nigeria. [2]
The need for periodic evaluation of the implementation of
SHP in primary schools in Nigeria cannot be over-
emphasized. This study, therefore, aimed to assess the current
status and level of implementation of the SHS – a key
component of the SHP - in primary schools in Ilorin, Kwara
State, Nigeria.
II. METHODS
Study Site
The study was conducted in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State
located in the North Central geographical zone of Nigeria,
with coordinates 8°30′N 4°33′E. Ilorin has three local
governments: Ilorin-South, Ilorin-East, and Ilorin-West local
governments. According to the 2006 census, the population of
Kwara State was estimated at 2.37 million people, with an
estimated growth rate of 2.3%. The same source estimated the
population of Ilorin at 777,667[10]. Ilorin has 189 public
primary schools and 523 registered private primary schools;
with an average of 109, 492 pupils registered in these schools
A

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume VI, Issue VII, July 2022|ISSN 2454-6186
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[11]. There are 55 public and 221 registered private primary
schools in Ilorin-West; 55 public and 205 registered private
primary schools in Ilorin-South; and 79 public and 97
registered private primary schools in Ilorin-East local
government areas [11].
Study Design
This is a cross-sectional study.
Study Population
This study was carried out in some selected private and public
primary schools in Ilorin.
Sample Size
The minimum sample size was calculated using the formula:
Where;
= Minimum sample size
u = Standard Normal Deviate (SND) corresponding to the
confidence level of 95% for a two-tailed test. = 1.96
v = SND corresponding to the power of 80%. = 0.84
P1 = Proportion of private schools performing medical
inspection of the pupils = 51.0% = 0.51[9]
P2 = Proportion of public schools performing medical
inspection of the pupils = 27.6% = 0.276[9]
64 public and 64 private primary schools were recruited for
the study
Therefore, the total number of schools studied is 128
Research Instrument
The School Health Programme Evaluation Scale (SHPES) [3],
[12] was adapted to obtain the state of the school health
services. It is a structured instrument that has been validated
for use in various similar studies. [1], [5], [13], [14] A semi-
structured questionnaire was also prepared to obtain the
general administration data. The questionnaire was pre-tested
in selected primary schools outside the sampled schools.
Sampling Technique
A multistage sampling technique was used
STAGE 1: The lists of public and private primary schools
obtained from the state Ministry of Education were each
arranged in alphabetical order.
STAGE 2: Proportionate sampling was used to choose the
number of schools that were picked from each local
government area.
STAGE 3: The first schools recruited were the first on the
arranged lists; while subsequent schools recruited were
selected using the appropriate sampling intervals.
Procedure
A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain
necessary information from the head teachers/proprietors of
the selected schools after a clear explanation of the nature and
purpose of the study had been given and consent obtained.
Inspection tours of the schools were also undertaken to see the
available facilities and the environmental condition of the
schools. The location and general environment of the schools
were looked at; the classrooms, living quarters, toilets, sources
of water, and sewage disposal systems were also inspected.
The available documents (school clinic records, health
instruction timetables, cleaning rosters, meal plans) were
requested for and inspected. These were documented by the
researchers.
Data Analysis
The data collected were appropriately verified and entered into
a computer. Data analysis was done using SPSS® ver. 20
(IBM Corporation). Tables and charts were used to report
descriptive statistics. Scores were assigned to the various
components of the SHP as detailed in the questionnaire. These
scores were summed to obtain the scores for the various
components. Mean scores and standard deviation were
compared across the various schools using a t-test. Schools
were also categorized into various groups based on their
scores and same analyzed with respect to school
characteristics such as age, student population, staff
population, location, etc. Pearson’s chi-square was used to
determine the difference between the frequencies of variables
in public and private schools. The level of significance was
established at a p-value of <0.05.
Ethical Clearance
This was obtained from the Ethical Review Committee of the
University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.
Sponsorship
The cost of the research was borne by the researcher.
III. RESULTS
School Administrative Data
A total of 128 primary schools comprising 64 private and 64
public schools were surveyed. Twelve (9.4%) private and 26
(20.3%) public primary schools were recruited from Ilorin
East Local Government Area (LGA). Twenty-five (19.5%)
private and 19 (14.8%) public primary schools were recruited
from Ilorin South LGA; while 27 (21.1%) private and 19
(14.8%) public primary schools were recruited from Ilorin
West LGA. (Figure 1).

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume VI, Issue VII, July 2022|ISSN 2454-6186
www.rsisinternational.org Page 796
Figure 1: Distribution of surveyed primary schools according to Local
Government Area and school type.
Availability of School Health Committee, functional Parents
Teachers Association (PTA), and extra-curricular activities in
the schools studied.
Eighty-three (64.8%) of the 128 schools had School Health
Committee, 120 (93.8%) had functional PTA and 93 (72.7%)
organized extra-curricular activities for the pupils. (Table I).
There were significantly more public schools with School
Health Committee than private schools (p = 0.005). All public
schools had functional PTA compared with 87.5% of private
schools (p = 0.011). Public and private schools were
comparable in terms of organising extra-curricular activities (p
= 0.074).
Table I: Availability of School Health Committee, functional Parents
Teachers Association, and extra-curricular activities.
Variable
Total
(%)
n=128
Public
(%) n=64
Private
(%)
n=64
χ2
p- value
School Health
Committee
83
(64.8)
49 (76.6)
34 (53.1)
7.711
0.005*
Functional
PTA
120
(93.8)
64
(100.0)
56 (87.5)
6.533Y
0.011*
Extra-
curricular
activities
93
(72.7)
42 (65.6)
51 (79.7)
3.185
0.074
χ2: Chi-square; Y: Yates corrected chi-square; *: p-value <0.05(i.e. statistically
significant)
Implemented School Health Services
Health personnel present in the primary schools studied
One hundred and four (81.3%) of the sampled primary schools
in Ilorin had no designated health personnel. The designated
health personnel available in the schools were a Health
Assistant / trained First Aider in 17 schools (13.3%), a Health
Educator / Nutritionist in 4 schools (3.1%), and a trained
Nurse in 6 schools (4.7%). There was no school with a
Medical Doctor. Three schools had both trained first aider and
Health educators. Fifty-nine public schools surveyed had no
health personnel compared with 45 of the private schools. This
was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.002), as shown
in Table II.
Health appraisal of pupils in the schools
One hundred and twenty-six (98.4%) schools inspected the
pupils medically routinely, 92 (71.9%) referred the sick to the
hospital when necessary, 31 (24.2%) regularly supervised the
health of the handicapped, while 17 (13.3%) did screening
tests for disabilities and periodic medical examinations. (Table
II). A significantly higher number of private schools did
screening tests (p = 0.019) and periodic medical examinations
(p = 0.004) for the pupils than the public schools. There was
no difference in the proportion of private and public schools
that provided other health appraisal services.
Treatment facilities within the schools
One hundred and twenty-three (96.1%) schools had first aid
boxes, of which 117 (91.4%) had essential drugs and
medicaments in the boxes. Fifteen schools (11.7%) had a sick
bay, 26 (20.3%) had school buses and 36 (28.1%) had
telephone services for health-related calls. Significantly higher
number of public than private schools had first aid box (p =
0.023), a health room/sick bay (p = 0.001), school bus (p =
0.001) and telephone services (p = 0.001). No school had an
ambulance. There is no statistically significant difference in
the availability of essential drugs and medicaments in the
schools as shown in (Table II)
Table II: Health Personnel, Appraisals, and Treatment Facilities in the
Primary Schools Studied.
Variables
Total
(%)
Public
(%)
Private
(%)
χ2
p value
n =
128
n = 64
n = 64
Health
Personnel#
None
104
(81.3)
59
(92.2)
45
(70.3)
10.051
0.002*
Health Assistant/
trained first aider
17
(13.3)
5 (7.8)
12
(18.8)
3.324
0.068
Health Educator/
Nutritionist
4 (3.1)
2 (3.1)
2 (3.1)
0.258Y
0.611
Nurse/ Midwife
6 (4.7)
0 (0)
6 (9.4)
4.372
0.037*
Health
appraisals#
Routine
inspection
126
(98.4)
64
(100.0)
62
(96.9)
0.508Y
0.476
Screening tests
17
(13.3)
4 (6.3)
13
(20.3)
4.341Y
0.037*
Periodic medical
examinations
17
(13.3)
3 (4.7)
14
(21.9)
6.783
0.009*
Referrals to
healthcare/
hospitals
92
(71.9)
42
(65.6)
50
(78.1)
2.473
0.116
Supervision of
the handicapped
31
(24.2)
18
(28.1)
13
(20.3)
1.064
0.302
Treatment
facilities#
First aid box
123
(96.1)
64
(100.0)
59
(46.1)
5.203
0.023*
Essential drugs
and materials
117
(91.4)
61
(95.3)
56
(87.5)
2.486
0.115
Health room
15
(11.7)
0 (0.0)
15
(23.4)
14.801Y
0.001*
Ambulance/
school bus
26
(20.3)
0 (0.0)
26
(40.6)
30.166Y
0.001*
Telephone
services
36
(28.1)
3 (4.7)
33
(51.6)
32.502Y
0.001*
#: multiple response; χ2: Chi-square; Y: Yates’ chi-square; *: p-value <0.05 (i.e.
statistically significant)

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume VI, Issue VII, July 2022|ISSN 2454-6186
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Record keeping, emergency care, and control of
communicable diseases in the primary schools studied.
Record keeping
Of the 128 schools studied, 101 (78.9%) had no health
records, and 25 (19.5%) had health records though not
cumulative (i.e. not detailed). One school (0.8%) had
cumulative health record which was not transferrable (the
records were hand-written in books) while another one (0.8%)
had cumulative and transferrable health record (the records
were detailed and stored on a desk-top computer, hence, can
be easily retrieved and transferred electronically). The health
records available in private and public primary schools were
comparable. (Table III).
Emergency Care
Regarding the various forms of care given for illness/injury,
125 (97.7%) of the schools gave first aid treatment, but only
42 (32.8%) recorded the treatment given. Other actions taken
by school authorities include immediate notification of parents
in 122 (95.3%), transportation of the child to the nearest health
post when needed in 108 (84.4%), and taking the child home
after treatment in 98 (76.6%) schools. (Table III). Public
schools recorded the treatment given to children with
emergency illness/injury more than private schools (p=0.001).
Other aspects of the care given in emergency situations in the
schools were comparable.
Control of communicable diseases
Regarding measures taken for the treatment and control of
communicable diseases, 116 schools (90.6%) gave health
talks, 125 (97.7%) sent children with communicable diseases
home, 7 (5.5%) isolated such children in a sick bay, while 119
schools (93.0%) organized for children to be immunized in the
schools during disease outbreaks. Significantly more private
than public schools isolate/quarantine children with
communicable diseases in a sick bay (p = 0.020). There is no
significant difference in the other measures used for the
control of communicable diseases, as shown in Table III.
Table III: Recordkeeping, Emergency care, and control of Communicable
diseases in the Primary Schools Studied.
Variables
Total
(%)
Public
(%)
Private
(%)
χ2
p
value
n =
128
n = 64
n = 64
Records keeping
Number of
records available
101
(78.9)
50
(78.1)
51
(79.7)
0.047
0.828
Available but not
cumulative
25
(19.5)
14
(21.9)
11
(17.2)
0.447
0.504
Cumulative but
not transferable
1 (0.8)
0 (0.0)
1 (1.6)
0.000Y
1.000
Cumulative and
transferable
1 (0.8)
0 (0.0)
1 (1.6)
0.000Y
1.000
Emergency care#
First aid treatment
usually given
125
(97.7)
64
(100.0)
61
(95.3)
1.365Y
0.243
Treatment given
recorded
42
(32.8)
30
(46.9)
12
(18.8)
11.482
0.001*
Notification of
parents
immediately
122
(95.3)
62
(96.9)
60
(93.8)
0.175Y
0.676
Transport child to
the nearest health
post
108
(84.4)
51
(79.7)
57
(89.1)
2.133
0.144
Convey child
home after
treatment
98
(76.6)
47
(73.4)
51
(79.7)
0.697
0.404
Control of
communicable
diseases#
Health talks
116
(90.6)
57
(31.7)
59
(92.2)
0.368
0.544
Send child home
125
(97.7)
62
(96.9)
63
(98.4)
0.341
0.559
Isolate/quarantine
in a health room
7 (5.5)
0 (0.0)
7 (10.9)
5.440
0.020*
Immunization
119
(93.0)
60
(93.8)
59
(92.2)
0.120
0.729
#: multiple response; χ2: Chi-square; Y: Yates’ chi-square; *: p-value <0.05 (i.e.
statistically significant)
Nutrition and Guidance and Counseling Services in the
schools studied
Nutrition services
Twenty (15.6%) of the 128 recruited schools had school farm,
whilst 50 (39.1%) had nutritional demonstration classes.
School meals (schools arranged for a vendor to sell food to
children at a lower cost) were offered in 97 (75.8%) schools,
while 10 (7.8%) schools gave nutritional supplements. (Table
IV). Significantly more private schools had nutrition
demonstration classes (p = 0.001), whilst more public schools
had school meals provided (p = 0.001). There was no
statistically significant difference in the availability of school
farms and nutritional supplements in private and public
schools.
Guidance and counseling services
One hundred and twenty-six (98.4%) schools had their pupils
undergo counseling sessions with the teachers while 122
(95.6%) schools had parents present for some of the
counseling sessions. (Table IV). There is no statistically
significant difference in the number of public and private
schools that had guidance and counseling services.
Table IV: Nutrition and Guidance and Counseling services in the schools
studied.
Variables
Total
(%)
Public
(%)
Private
(%)
χ2
p value
n =
128
n = 64
n = 64
Nutrition services#
School farm
available
20
(15.6)
6 (9.4)
14
(21.9)
3.793
0.052
Nutrition
demonstration
classes
50
(39.1)
14
(21.9)
36
(56.3)
15.885
0.001*
School meals
97
(75.8)
60
(93.8)
37
(57.8)
22.518
0.001*

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume VI, Issue VII, July 2022|ISSN 2454-6186
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Nutritional
supplements
10
(7.8)
4 (6.3)
6 (9.4)
0.434
0.510
Guidance and
counseling services#
With teachers
126
(98.4)
64
(100.0)
62
(96.9)
0.508Y
0.476
With parents
122
(95.6)
61
(95.3)
61
(95.3)
0.175Y
0.676
#: multiple response; χ2: Chi square; Y: Yates’ chi-square; *: p value <0.05
Overall SHS Performance
One hundred and seven schools (53public and 54 private) met
the minimum acceptable score of 19 in SHS. The mean score
in the SHS of private primary schools is significantly higher
than that of the public schools (p = 0.028). Overall, the SHS of
private primary schools in Ilorin is better than that of public
schools. (Table V)
Table V: Overall SHS Performance.
Total (%)
Public (%)
Private
(%)
χ2
p value
Variables
n = 128
n = 64
n = 64
Mean ± SD
21.38 ±
2.72
22.77 ±
4.20
2.224t
0.028*
Poor
21 (16.4)
11 (17.2)
10 (15.6)
0.057
0.811
Good
107 (83.6)
53 (82.8)
54 (84.4)
χ2: Chi square; t: Independent Samples t test; *: p value <0.05
IV. DISCUSSION
The dearth of qualified health personnel in primary schools in
Ilorin demonstrated in this study is a reflection of the poor
state of SHS in Ilorin. Similar findings have been reported in
other parts of Nigeria. [14], [15] Health designated school
teachers can be trained to play enormous roles in the health
appraisal of the school community. The use of primary school
teachers to correctly identify 80% of eye diseases among
primary school pupils in rural Tanzania [16]` provides a ready
example of their utility when trained.
Crucial components of the SHS are the routine inspection of
pupils by designated staff and periodic medical examination
by health personnel. Most (98.4%) of the primary schools in
Ilorin carried out routine inspections of the pupils (clothes,
skin, nails, teeth, hair), at least once weekly; a finding that is
similar to that of previous reports.[15], [17], [18] On the other
hand, a periodic medical examination was conducted by a few
schools (13.3%), probably reflecting the earlier mentioned
lack of health personnel. Alex-Hart et al, [15] in Rivers state
(2008), reported that none of the schools did periodic medical
examinations. Their study was conducted in a relatively rural
community of Bonny and this may explain the worse
performance. The findings are, however, similar to what
Kuponiyi [17] found in Ogun state and the National average of
14%. [2] . Only thirteen percent of the schools in this study
did pre-entry medical screening to detect health problems like
hearing and visual impairments which have been shown to
have a negative impact on learning or had been routinely
supervising the health of handicapped pupils. This is higher
than that reported by Olatunya [19] in the Ilesa-East local
government area, and Oyinlade et al[14] in Sagamu; where
7.8% and 11% of the schools, respectively, did pre-entry
medical screening.
The effect of the glaring lack of health personnel in these
schools is further exemplified by the lack of stocked first aid
boxes. The first aid box provides a ready set of materials
required for dealing with minor illnesses and injuries and has
been shown to limit morbidity in these situations. Though the
presence of first aid boxes in 96.% of the schools in this study
is similar to reports by Nwachukwu[20] in Imo state and
Ezeonu et al[21] in Ebonyi, where between 60.0% and 80.6%
of schools had first aid boxes, many of them were empty and
the stocked ones were sparingly so.
The presence of some form of first aid treatment in most of the
schools is similar to the report by Kuponiyi [17] in Osun state.
Most schools in Ilorin kept no record of the treatment given to
pupils; and where kept, the records were neither detailed nor
tidy – a finding in keeping with that of Oyinlade et al [14] in
Ogun State. Poor health record keeping may be due to
ignorance of its importance on the part of those saddled with
this responsibility. It could also reflect the absence of trained
personnel who would have done a better job of keeping these
records.
Only 11% of the schools had a health room, which were called
by different names, e.g., sick bay, school clinic, etc. This is
similar to what Ezeonu[21] found in Abakaliki, but far below
the findings in other parts of Nigeria[9], [17], [20] and the
USA.[22]
Regarding other health services provided by the schools, such
as the availability of school buses to convey ill children to
health facilities, when necessary, telephone service for health-
related calls, treatment, and control of communicable diseases,
the general performance was poor. This is similar to reports by
other workers. [14], [17], [23]
Regarding the school feeding programme, most schools
provided vendors selling food at reduced prices, with the food
sold each day patterned after the food time-table prepared by
the school health committee or health teacher. This is similar
to findings in other parts of Nigeria. [9], [15], [20] This
ensures that pupils get nutritious and hygienically prepared
meals at affordable prices. A few schools had school farm,
some of the produce of which were used in nutrition
demonstration classes. This is similar to what was reported in
Sagamu. [14]
Despite the deficiencies noted in the SHS of primary schools
in Ilorin, 84.4% met the minimum acceptable score of 19 for
SHS on the SHP evaluation scale. This is at variance with
what was previously reported in other parts of Nigeria, [14],
[17], [18], [23] where SHS was found to be poor. This could

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume VI, Issue VII, July 2022|ISSN 2454-6186
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be due to an improvement in this aspect of the SHS over the
years in primary schools in Ilorin.
In comparison, more private than public schools had health
personnel. This could be due to better insight of the
proprietors of the private schools, hence the employment of
health personnel to attend to the health needs of the school
community. It is therefore not surprising that a significantly
higher number of private schools were found to do pre-entry
screening tests and perform periodic medical examinations for
the pupils; as health personnel would know the importance of
these tests and examinations and thus ensure that they are
done. This could also account for the higher number of private
schools with telephone services for health-related calls. This
finding is in contrast to what Kuponiyi [17] found in Ogun
state, where more public than private schools had health
personnel. The presence of health rooms in more private
schools could also be due to the availability of health
personnel there, as they would require a place where ill pupils
could be attended to. Also, more private schools
isolated/quarantined children with communicable diseases in a
health room, understandably because private schools had more
health rooms than public schools. This is similar to what
Kuponiyi [17] reported.
Despite the fact that more public than private schools had first
aid boxes, there was no difference in the availability of
essential drugs and materials in the schools. This is because
many first aid boxes in the public schools were empty; mostly
due to lack of funds, but also due to the lack of good
maintenance culture of public properties. The finding of empty
first aid boxes in the public schools is supported by the report
by Kuponiyi [17] in Ogun state, where, though there was no
difference in the number of private and public schools with
first aid boxes, more private schools had essential drugs and
materials.
More public schools recorded the treatment given to children
with emergency illness/injury than private schools. The
situation in Ogun [17] is, however, different as no difference
was found in the number of public and private schools that
recorded the treatment given to ill pupils. While school meals
were offered in more public than private schools, there was no
difference in the availability of school farms and nutritional
supplements in private and public schools.
The mean scores of private schools were significantly higher
than those of public schools. Hence, the SHP of private
schools in Ilorin is better than that of public schools.
V. CONCLUSIONS
Over 80% of primary schools in Ilorin had good SHS as
evidenced by their obtaining up to the minimum acceptable
score of 19 on the SHP evaluation scale. However, there is a
need for further study to explore other components of school
health programs. This will help evaluate the overall status of
its implementation across schools in this study area.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This is to appreciate all the co-authors for their immerse
contributions to this work. And to all my supervisors for their
tireless efforts to ensure the success of this research.
Thank you all
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