Walker, D.^* and Akpe, A. B.^**

^*Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education,

Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State.

^**Department of Community Health Science,

College of Health Technology, Otuogidi, Bayelsa State

Abstract

Management of refuse is a serious public health challenge in Nigeria, because it is uncoordinated and poses serious threat to the health of man and its immediate environment. One way to address the issue of refuse disposal in the schools and even in the communities is through environmental health education programmes. Health education programmes are educational interventions aimed at promoting healthy behaviours and preventing diseases through the dissemination of information and the creation of awareness. The study aimed at investigating the impact of environmental health education programme on the knowledge and practice of refuse disposal among secondary school students in community secondary school, Ebedebiri, Bayelsa State. The study adopted quasi-experimental design of pretest-posttest non-equivalent control group research design. Two hypotheses guided the study. The sample size was determined using 20 percent of the school population, which resulted to 127 respondents. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting the 54 respondents from JSS2 and 73 respondents from SS1 for the study. A self-developed, and validated questionnaire with two sections was used as instrument for data collection. The valid questionnaire was subjected to reliability test through the use of Cronbach’s Alpha and a reliability coefficient of 0.77 was established which was considered appropriate for the instrument to be used for the study. A lesson guide was also developed and used by the researchers in line the content of the environmental education package. A 6-week environmental education programme was designed to impact the participant’s knowledge and practice of refuse disposal methods. Data were analyzed using inferential statistics of ANCOVA set at 0.05 level of significance using pretest as covariance. From the findings, it was concluded that, the knowledge and practice of refuse disposal methods was improved after the environmental health education programme. Based on the conclusion, it was recommended that, the social mobilization unit of the Primary Health Care Department in the unified Local Government system should regularly carry out school out-reach programmes that are centered on environmental sanitation.