Abstract
Background: Children’s ability to learn may be affected by inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene conditions in several ways.
Objective: To assess the availability and functionality of toilets in primary schools in Obia-Akpor Local Government Area.
Methodology: This was a descriptive cross sectional study that involved the use of an observational checklist to get information from 25 primary schools and the administration of 480 self-administered structured questionnaires to pupils in the primary schools. A multistage sampling was employed in choosing the pupils that were studied.
Results: Of the 25 primary schools studied, 23(92%) had water cistern, all (100%) the 23 primary schools had toilet buildings with small windows for ventilation and 22 (95.65%) had toilets with doors that could be closed. Also, of the 23 primary schools with water cistern toilet facility, 22 (95.65%) schools had functional toilet facility and 9 (39.13%) had toilet facilities specifically designed for small children, and 14(60.87%) had toilet facilities that were not designed to suit younger children. Also, 17(77.27%) had separate facilities for teachers and pupil with sex distinction, the toilets to pupil ratio is < 1:40 in 14 primary schools and > 1:40 in 8 primary schools, pupils in 9(40.91%), made use of tissue/paper as personal cleansing material, 4(18.18%) had tissue/paper but occasionally made use of water, 3(13.64%) had water only, 6(27.27%) of the primary schools had no provision for personal cleansing and none had water and soap as personal cleansing material.
Conclusion: This study met with globally satisfactory benchmarks. Advancement and coordination of upkeep arrangement and strict agreeability with admission proceedings to match existing toilet facilities is key to communicable disease prevention and good school performance.
