CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Introduction
Among the numerous factors that militate against the growth and development of children of school ages are safe environment, nutrition and health. This word has it support from the work of Eneh and Nkang (2001) that clean healthy environment free of dangerous object are necessary for healthy growth and development. In another view they added that sickness slows down growth and affects the final size of child has a more normal and satisfactory pattern of growth and development, while the sick child spends his/her energy and other resources fighting illness.
It is believed that the family and school should help habits. Healthy children learn more rapidly, better adjusted, get along with classmates and mates teaching a pleasure to themselves.
Years ago, teachers used to look into the health of especially during morning devotion. The nails, hair and clothes will be checked to help promote the personal hygiene of the learners. For so long the rate of sungal infection such as eczema and ringworm were reduced in our schools.
According to Oparaku (1983) the struggle to overcome disease can be traced back to the ancient times. The disease persists because of faulty habits of living, ignorance, low standard of personal and environmental hygiene and also from the negligence on the part of parents and teachers.
Therefore, base on this high rate of infection in our schools, the researchers and resolved to the effect of skin infection among primary school pupils in Oruk Anam Local Government Area.
1.2 Statement of Problem
The hygienic condition of man can cause certain disease when parts of the body fails to perform functions at this point, the person can be seen as being sick. Disease caused by unhygienic condition of pupils can be blamed partly on the parents and on teachers too, because of the degree of neglect on their part. This negligence could be due to failure to isolate the infected one for treatment. Illiteracy on the part of some parents and children frequent interaction with infected class or school mates.
Till date every few cases of ringworm or other skin infection have been recorded at health centres in Oruk Anam. Since the underlying problem have been identified as low personal and environmental hygiene of parents and teachers. It is therefore believed that if the problem is properly examined the spread of skin infection among primary school pupils could be reduced in Oruk Anam Local Government Area.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The following objectives guided the study:
- To document the spread of skin infection among primary school in Oruk Anam.
- To bring to light some common skin infections disease that are rampant in primary schools.
- To institute control measures as well as possibly solutions to solving the problem of skin infection in our home and schools.
1.4 Research Questions
1. What are the factors militating against the prevention of skin infection in our primary schools?
