Health instruction in Nigerian schools: what are the missing links?
BACKGROUND
School health instruction (SHI) is the instructional aspects of school health programme. It provides information on key health issues to school children who are in their formative years.


METHODS
A cross sectional descriptive study of all the primary schools in a focal Local Government Area in Nigeria was carried out to ascertain the implementation of SHI with regards to the contents, methods of delivery and teachers preparation for health teaching using an evaluation checklist for SHI.


RESULTS
There were more female pupils enrolled in the study area compared to their male counterparts with a male to female ratio of 0.9:1.0 and only 3.0% of the teachers had In-service training on health related issues in the previous five years preceding the study. 79.4% of the teachers had the recommended qualification to work in the schools. Teachings on emotional health, communicable diseases and safety education were sparingly given by 1.6%, 4.7% and 56% schools respectively. Only three (4.7%) schools (all private) had health instruction given by designated health education staff. No school gave health instruction at least thrice a week as recommended.


CONCLUSIONS
Compliance with the implementation of SHI was very poor in the study area.
Paediatrics Department, Ekiti State University Ado Ekiti, Nigeria.
Oladele Simeon
OS
Olatunya
Paediatrics Department, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Saheed Babajide
SB
Oseni
Paediatrics Department, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Oyeku Akibu
OA
Oyelami
Community Health Department, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Caleb
C
Adegbenro
Paediatrics Department, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Nwadiuto
N
Akani
D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011153:Population; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000592:standards; D012574:Schools / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
Child health; Nigeria; School Health Instruction; School children