Informatics Publishing Limited

Abstract

Background: Children’s ability to learn may be affected by inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene conditions in several ways.

Objective: To assess the availability and functionality of toilets in primary schools in Obia-Akpor Local Government Area.

Methodology: This was a descriptive cross sectional study that involved the use of an observational checklist to get information from 25 primary schools and the administration of 480 self-administered structured questionnaires to pupils in the primary schools. A multistage sampling was employed in choosing the pupils that were studied.

Results: Of the 25 primary schools studied, 23(92%) had water cistern, all (100%) the 23 primary schools had toilet buildings with small windows for ventilation and 22 (95.65%) had toilets with doors that could be closed. Also, of the 23 primary schools with water cistern toilet facility, 22 (95.65%) schools had functional toilet facility and 9 (39.13%) had toilet facilities specifically designed for small children, and 14(60.87%) had toilet facilities that were not designed to suit younger children. Also, 17(77.27%) had separate facilities for teachers and pupil with sex distinction, the toilets to pupil ratio is < 1:40 in 14 primary schools and > 1:40 in 8 primary schools, pupils in 9(40.91%), made use of tissue/paper as personal cleansing material, 4(18.18%) had tissue/paper but occasionally made use of water, 3(13.64%) had water only, 6(27.27%) of the primary schools had no provision for personal cleansing and none  had water and soap as personal cleansing material.

Conclusion: This study met with globally satisfactory benchmarks. Advancement and coordination of upkeep arrangement and strict agreeability with admission proceedings to match existing toilet facilities is key to communicable disease prevention and good school performance.

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Background: A number of factors can inhibit the introduction and successful application of ICTs in the health sector especially health information management in developing countries.

Aim: This study is aimed at investigating the constraints in the application of ICT in health information management of General Hospitals in Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

Methodology:A descriptive survey research design was employed in this study and a total enumeration procedure was used in selecting 200 health information personnel from the various General Hospitals. A questionnaire was used for data collection from respondents. Percentages, as well as statistical tool, and cross tabulation were employed to analyse data. Four research questions were used to guide this study.

Results:Of the 188 respondents,81.4%were without computer skills. Majority of the respondents (78.7%) agree that computer is an important device of ICT on health information management. 79.8% of respondents do not have stable electricity. 82.4% of respondents do not have access to internet facility.Finally, it was discovered from the study that there were an association between some of these constraints and the usage of ICT in General Hospitals.

Conclusion: There is still a global digital divide in developing countries with lack of access to internet facilities and stable electricity, largely untrained Health information management personnel and insufficient infrastructure amongst others. Provision of enabling environment and adequate training on ICT are crucial for effective Health information management.

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Background: Clinical evaluation can help to quantify the extent of vision loss, but relating vision loss to the impact on one’s functional ability and quality of life is useful just as our study will show.

Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was used that involved the use of Data form, for each of the 2 secondary schools and the administration of 360 self administered structured questionnaires to pupils in these secondary schools. A simple random sampling was employed in choosing the students that were studied.

Results: Of the 350 students studied, 27.09% of students with reduced visual acuity had a bad student participation or quality of life, while 72.9% had fair and above students’ participation. Visual acuity had a significant impact on the students quality of life (Reading: X² cal < X² tab). No significant association between visual acuity and participation in sports. Also, no significant association was found between visual acuity and participation in other recreational activities (X² calculated = 1.82, X² tabulated =m 3.84, degree of freedom = 1,ۻ-value =0.05, therefore X² tabulated >X² calculated).                                                                        

 Conclusion: School screening programmes should be established for prompt referral to specialists, further evaluation, immediate treatment and follow up of refractive errors involving both preschool and school children to avert reading disability and its sequellae as shown in this study series.

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