Evaluating Hygiene Knowledge and Attitudinal Differences Among Primary School Pupils in Private and Public Schools in Port Harcourt

Ensuring proper hygiene practices among school-aged children is critical for safeguarding their health and reducing the spread of communicable diseases. This study evaluates and compares the hygiene knowledge and attitudes of pupils enrolled in public and private primary schools in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Port Harcourt is a city of over three million people, and the most economic State in Nigeria outside Lagos. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, and data were collected from a stratified sample of two hundred and twenty (220) pupils using a structured, pre-tested questionnaire covering key domains of personal and environmental hygiene. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize pupils’ responses, while independent sample t-tests and chi-square analyses determined significant differences between the two school categories. The findings reveal notable variations in hygiene awareness and attitudes, with pupils from private schools demonstrating significantly higher levels of knowledge (58 percent) compared to 43 percent of public schools’ pupils (p = 0.0655). Attitudinal patterns also differed across both groups; private school pupils had a more positive attitude towards hygiene, with 73 percent showing a positive response, compared to 54 percent of public-school pupils (p = 0.00056), reflecting disparities in exposure, school hygiene infrastructure, and parental guidance. The study underscores the need for strengthened hygiene education programs, particularly in public schools, and highlights the importance of coordinated efforts between government, educators, and parents to promote healthier environments for children. Targeted interventions and sustained awareness campaigns are recommended to bridge the knowledge gap and foster positive hygiene behaviors among primary school pupils in Port Harcourt.

hygiene, knowledge, public-health, attitude, pupils, port-harcourt

1. Adagbada, A. O., Banjo, T. A., & Hassan, A. O. (2020). School sanitation and hygiene practices among Nigerian pupils: Implications for public health. Journal of Environmental Health Research, 20(2), 45–53. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Adebayo, A. M., & Ojetola, O. T. (2021). Comparative assessment of hygiene knowledge among pupils in private and public schools in Nigeria. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 12(2), 45–52. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Adegboye, A. O., Osibanjo, O. A., & Olugbamila, A. (2021). School infrastructure and learning outcomes in public basic schools in Nigeria. Journal of Education and Practice, 12(4), 45–55. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Afolabi, O. T., & Aluko, O. O. (2021). Hygiene behavior among school-aged children: Determinants and implications for health education. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 25(4), 112–123. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Afolabi, O. T., Olayinka, O. A., & Adewumi, A. A. (2019). Awareness of disease transmission through shared personal items among school-aged children. African Health Sciences, 19(1), 233–241. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Assefa, M., & Kumie, A. (2020). Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice toward hygiene among school children in Ethiopia. Environmental Health Insights, 14, 1–9. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Babalola, O. E., Afolabi, O. T., & Oladipo, O. (2020). Hygiene practices among primary school pupils in Nigeria. Journal of Public Health Research, 9(2), 177–184. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Babalola, O. E., Afolabi, O. T., & Oladipo, O. (2020). Hygiene practices among primary school pupils in Nigeria. Journal of Public Health Research, 9(2), 177–184. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Cochran, W. G. (1977). Sampling techniques (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Curtis, V., & Cairncross, S. (2003). Effect of washing hands with soap on diarrhoea risk in the community: A systematic review. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 3(5), 275–281. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Edaba, M.I.E. (2025). The nexus between farm credit, gender equality and agricultural productivity: Evidence from Rural Arable Crop Farmers in South-South Nigeria, global journal of economics and finance, 2(4),223- 231. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Ekanem, A. M., Edet, U. O., & Okon, A. E. (2022). Hand hygiene knowledge among primary school pupils in southern Nigeria. BMC Public Health, 22, 1123. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Etikan, I., & Bala, K. (2017). Sampling and sampling methods. Biostatistics and Biometrics Open Access Journal, 5(2), 1–3. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Ezeonu, C. T., & Ezeonu, N. C. (2018). Childhood hygiene practices and disease prevention in Nigeria. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 5(6), 2205–2211. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Freeman, M. C., et al. (2014). Hygiene and health in schools: Systematic review of evidence. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 217(7), 783–791. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Freeman, M. C., et al. (2014). Hygiene and health in schools: Systematic review of evidence. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 217(7), 783–791. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). (2023). Nigeria demographic and health statistics report. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Okeigbemen, S. A. (2020). Oral hygiene practices and dental health education among Nigerian school children. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, 23(4), 512–518. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Olorunfemi, O. D., & Bello, A. M. (2019). Sanitation challenges in Nigerian primary schools: A systematic review. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 10(1), 71–79. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Oloruntoba, E. O., et al. (2014). Hygiene awareness and practices among Nigerian schoolchildren. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 24(4), 318–328. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Oloruntoba, E. O., et al. (2014). Hygiene awareness and practices among Nigerian schoolchildren. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 24(4), 318–328. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Omotade, T. T., Aderibigbe, S. A., & Adeyemi, A. (2020). School environment and hygiene awareness among Nigerian pupils. International Journal of School Health, 7(3), 176–183. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Onyeaghala, A. A., & Ojo, S. A. (2021). Food safety knowledge among pupils: A Nigerian perspective. Journal of Food Safety, 41(5), e12905. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Setia, M. S. (2016). Methodology series: Cross-sectional studies. Indian Journal of Dermatology, 61(3), 261–264. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Tavakol, M., & Dennick, R. (2011). Understanding Cronbach’s alpha. International Journal of Medical Education, 2, 53–55. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Umeh, B. C., & Adekeye, O. A. (2022). Infrastructure inequality and learning outcomes in Nigerian schools. Education and Urban Society, 54(3), 329–348. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. UNICEF. (2020). Water, sanitation and hygiene in schools: Progress report. UNICEF. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Uwaezuoke, S. N., & Duru, C. O. (2019). Nail hygiene and infection prevention among schoolchildren. Journal of Preventive Medicine, 6(2), 58–64. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Vivas, A., et al. (2016). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of hygiene among schoolchildren. PLOS ONE, 11(3), e0151597. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. World Health Organization (WHO). (2009). Hand hygiene in community settings: A guide for schools. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. World Health Organization. (2020). Water, sanitation, hygiene, and health: A primer for health professionals. WHO Press [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Tribal Child Nutrition and Health in District of Sundargarh: A Public Health Review of ICDS Intervention
• Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Prostate Cancer Screening Amongst Men Aged 40-60 Years in The Buea Health District: A Cross-Sectional Study
• Compliance with JCI Protocols: A Focus on Employee Safety
• Influence and Involvement of Teachers in Menstrual Hygiene Management of Female Secondary School Students in Kogi State, Nigeria
• A Critical Evaluation of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in Bihar