ABSTRACT

The main objective of this study was to investigate the causes and consequences of water and food related illnesses among students residing in the University of Benin's Hall of Residence. To accomplish this, five research questions were formulated to guide the study and relevant literature was reviewed.

The researcher utilized a descriptive survey research design and employed the systematic sampling technique to select the study population, which included four Halls of Residence (Hall 1, Hall 2, Hall 3, and Hall 4), housing a total of 7620 students. A sample size of 100 respondents was randomly chosen using the cluster random sampling technique. The primary data collection instrument used was a well-structured questionnaire developed by the researcher.

The findings indicate that a majority of the participants were knowledgeable about the causes and effects of water and food related illnesses and their implications. These observations demonstrate the collective responsibility of students, food handlers, health personnel, school management, and the government in minimizing the occurrence of such diseases. It is thus recommended that students prioritize personal hygiene and that the Hall of Residence be equipped with clean and sufficient water supply. Moreover, students should be educated and reminded about the importance of maintaining good personal hygiene at all times, as this measure is crucial for preventing illnesses.