ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE PRACTICES AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN A TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN THE SOUTH-WEST, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the hostel hygiene practices adopted among
undergraduates in Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti. The descriptive research design of
the survey type was adopted. One hundred and twenty-four undergraduate students (58
male and 66 female), randomly selected from six hostels of residence for students in Ekiti
State University, constituted the respondents for this study. Data were collected with the
aid of a questionnaire. Frequency counts, percentages, t-test, and ANOVA, were used for
analyzing data at 0.05 level of significance. 71.7%, 54.0%, 27.4%, 24.2%, and 29.8% of
the respondents indicated regular cleaning of the rooms, grass cutting in the hostel
surroundings, sweeping of hostel surroundings, and the regular cleaning of toilets and
bathrooms, respectively. There is no significant difference in hostel hygiene status based
on type (F=2.964; p>0.05) and ownership of hostel (t =-2.160; p>0.05). There is a need
for improvement in hostel hygiene practices adopted by these students. Therefore,
environmental health education is required.