HOSTEL SANITATION PRACTICE AND IT'S IMPACT ON STUDENTS HEALTH

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study is to examine Hostel Sanitation Practice and its effect on Students health in University of Benin, Benin City and a total of 150 questionnaires were used. The descriptive survey research design was employed in the study. The population of the study consisted of 7,233 and the sample size of the study included 150 students selected through simple random sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a validated questionnaire. The test-retest method of reliability was used and data collected was analysed using frequency count, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The study revealed that the causes of poor sanitation in the hostel include inadequate maintenance of toilets, lack of understanding, irregular and overcrowded rooms. It was also revealed that the level of sanitation practice in the school hostel is poor with students defecating in open spaces, waste not collected and disposed on time, students not adhering to etiquette in washing their hands when they use the facilities. Based on the findings, the study recommends that students should be encouraged to keep their environment clean by using the appropriate facilities and the school authority should provide these facilities in good conditions for use and government can also assist in providing health facilities in the universities. It was also recommended that there should be an increase in oversight of hostel sanitation by monitoring and enforcing cleanliness standards to help to ensure that hostels are kept clean and hygienic. This can be done by having resident advisors, hostel staff, or the university administration inspect hostels regularly.