Effect of a school health programme on ensuring safe environments for primary school children

Aim: The school health programme (SHP), which focuses on promoting safe environments for school children, has not been given proper attention in Nigeria. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of SHP on ensuring safe environments for primary school children. Methods: The study was conducted in ten primary schools in Ife-Central Local Government Area (IFLGA) of Osun State, Nigeria. The ten schools were those that are used by medical students of Obafemi Awolowo University for their clinical rotation posting in Community Health. Hence, these students were used as research assistants. The study employed experimental design and an observational checklist was used to collect data. The project was carried out over a period of three years from 2002-2005. During this period, the students carried out some aspects of SHP by constantly giving health talks to pupils and school personnel on the promotion of optimum sanitary condition in schools. Data were collected on existing facilities in schools and behavioural practices that can promote safe environments both pre-and post-intervention by the SHP. Results: Comparing the two results showed that a well organized and properly executed SHP can be used to create safe environments for school children. Concluion: The study recommends that the SHP should be implemented in all primary schools in Nigeria. © 2007 The Journal of The Royal Society for the Promotion of Health JRSH.