Personal Hygiene Practices Among Secondary School Students in Esan Central Local Government Area, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria

Inegbenosun Iluobe; Enahoro Folashade; Abah Steve

doi:doi:10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17

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Personal Hygiene Practices Among Secondary School Students in Esan Central Local Government Area, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria

Inegbenosun Iluobe^*

, Enahoro Folashade, Abah Steve

Published in World Journal of Health Services Research (Volume 1, Issue 1)

Received: 25 August 2026 Accepted: 7 September 2026 Published: 27 September 2026

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Abstract

Hygiene refers to the practices associated with ensuring good health and cleanliness. Personal hygiene therefore may be described as the principle of maintaining cleanliness and grooming of the external body. It is the general looking after oneself and leads to promotion and continuance of health. Components of personal hygiene includes food hygiene, menstrual hygiene, hair care, feet care, hands and skin care, But this study was on the last three components. The study was carried out to determine the standard of personal hygiene among students of secondary schools in Esan Central Local Government Area (L. G. A) in Irrua, Edo State. Method: The study was carried out in selected private and public secondary schools in Esan Central L. G. A in 2011. A total of 270 students were sampled using self-administered questionnaires. Data collected was then analyzed using the statistical package for scientific solution (SPSS) version. Result: The findings showed good knowledge of personal hygiene source of information being mainly school. Practice of hand washing, oral hygiene was first learned at school which ought to be at home but was found to be inadequate in majority of the respondents. Factors such as health education were found to affect brushing and hand washing positively. Conclusion: There is need for continued hygiene education to improve and sustain good hygiene practices among students.

Published in	World Journal of Health Services Research (Volume 1, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17
Page(s)	63-70
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Irrua, Hand Washing, Personal Hygiene, Oral Hygiene

References

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[4]	An Approach to Hygiene Education Among Rural Indian School-going Children. Online Journal of Health and Allied Sciences. Oct–Dec 2007; 6(4).
[5]	Esan AO, Adelekan DA, and Esan TA. Gender Variability to Oral Hygiene Knowledge, Attitude and Practice and Oral Hygiene Status of Secondary School Students in Ile-Ife. Journal of Medical Women Association. 2003; 1: 29–31.
[6]	Hoy S. Chasing Dirt: The American Pursuit of Cleanliness. Oxford University Press, New York. 1995.
[7]	Idehen C. O. and Oshodin G. O. *Factors Affecting Health Institution in Secondary Schools in Edo State. Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Nigeria. Ethno-med. 2008; 21(1): 61–66.
[8]	Bamigboya O., Akande T M: Oral hygiene status of students in selected secondary schools in Oshogbo, Nigeria. Nigeria medical practitioner. 2007; 51(4).
[9]	School sanitation and hygiene education in latin America; Summary report of a workshop on problems and options for improvement, Cali, Columbia. 1993 (PAHO, WHO, IRC): 22-27.
[10]	Bowling A: Research methods in health, investigating health services. Buckinggham University Press, 1999.
[11]	Dongre A R, Deshunkh P R, Garg B S: The Impact of school health education programme on personal hygiene and related morbidities in the tribal school children of Wardha district. Indian Journal of Community Medicine. 2006; 31(2)
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[14]	Madukor S, Lawlerjat Y., Cadot S., Da Costa Noble R., Laporte C., and Miquel J. L. Application of Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Need (CPITN) in Enugu, Nigeria – Study of Secondary School Students Aged Between 12 and 18 Years. Odonto Stomatologie Tropicale. 2005; 31(12): 12–15.
[15]	Cohen H. A., Kitai E., Levy I., and Ben-Amitai D. Hand Washing Pattern in Two Dermatology Clinics. Journal of Dermatology. 2002; 205(4): 358–361.

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APA Style

Iluobe, I., Folashade, E., Steve, A. (2026). Personal Hygiene Practices Among Secondary School Students in Esan Central Local Government Area, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria. World Journal of Health Services Research, 1(1), 63-70. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17

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ACS Style

Iluobe, I.; Folashade, E.; Steve, A. Personal Hygiene Practices Among Secondary School Students in Esan Central Local Government Area, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria. World J. Health Serv. Res. 2026, 1(1), 63-70. doi: 10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17

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AMA Style

Iluobe I, Folashade E, Steve A. Personal Hygiene Practices Among Secondary School Students in Esan Central Local Government Area, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria. World J Health Serv Res. 2026;1(1):63-70. doi: 10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17

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@article{10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17,
  author = {Inegbenosun Iluobe and Enahoro Folashade and Abah Steve},
  title = {Personal Hygiene Practices Among Secondary School Students in Esan Central Local Government Area, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria},
  journal = {World Journal of Health Services Research},
  volume = {1},
  number = {1},
  pages = {63-70},
  doi = {10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wjhsr.20260101.17},
  abstract = {Hygiene refers to the practices associated with ensuring good health and cleanliness. Personal hygiene therefore may be described as the principle of maintaining cleanliness and grooming of the external body. It is the general looking after oneself and leads to promotion and continuance of health. Components of personal hygiene includes food hygiene, menstrual hygiene, hair care, feet care, hands and skin care, But this study was on the last three components. The study was carried out to determine the standard of personal hygiene among students of secondary schools in Esan Central Local Government Area (L. G. A) in Irrua, Edo State. Method: The study was carried out in selected private and public secondary schools in Esan Central L. G. A in 2011. A total of 270 students were sampled using self-administered questionnaires. Data collected was then analyzed using the statistical package for scientific solution (SPSS) version. Result: The findings showed good knowledge of personal hygiene source of information being mainly school. Practice of hand washing, oral hygiene was first learned at school which ought to be at home but was found to be inadequate in majority of the respondents. Factors such as health education were found to affect brushing and hand washing positively. Conclusion: There is need for continued hygiene education to improve and sustain good hygiene practices among students.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Personal Hygiene Practices Among Secondary School Students in Esan Central Local Government Area, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
AU  - Inegbenosun Iluobe
AU  - Enahoro Folashade
AU  - Abah Steve
Y1  - 2026/09/27
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17
T2  - World Journal of Health Services Research
JF  - World Journal of Health Services Research
JO  - World Journal of Health Services Research
SP  - 63
EP  - 70
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17
AB  - Hygiene refers to the practices associated with ensuring good health and cleanliness. Personal hygiene therefore may be described as the principle of maintaining cleanliness and grooming of the external body. It is the general looking after oneself and leads to promotion and continuance of health. Components of personal hygiene includes food hygiene, menstrual hygiene, hair care, feet care, hands and skin care, But this study was on the last three components. The study was carried out to determine the standard of personal hygiene among students of secondary schools in Esan Central Local Government Area (L. G. A) in Irrua, Edo State. Method: The study was carried out in selected private and public secondary schools in Esan Central L. G. A in 2011. A total of 270 students were sampled using self-administered questionnaires. Data collected was then analyzed using the statistical package for scientific solution (SPSS) version. Result: The findings showed good knowledge of personal hygiene source of information being mainly school. Practice of hand washing, oral hygiene was first learned at school which ought to be at home but was found to be inadequate in majority of the respondents. Factors such as health education were found to affect brushing and hand washing positively. Conclusion: There is need for continued hygiene education to improve and sustain good hygiene practices among students.
VL  - 1
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Inegbenosun Iluobe

Department of Surgery, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0008-0682-2685
Enahoro Folashade

Department of Community Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigreia
Abah Steve

Department of Community Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigreia

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APA Style

Iluobe, I., Folashade, E., Steve, A. (2026). Personal Hygiene Practices Among Secondary School Students in Esan Central Local Government Area, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria. World Journal of Health Services Research, 1(1), 63-70. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17

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ACS Style

Iluobe, I.; Folashade, E.; Steve, A. Personal Hygiene Practices Among Secondary School Students in Esan Central Local Government Area, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria. World J. Health Serv. Res. 2026, 1(1), 63-70. doi: 10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17

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AMA Style

Iluobe I, Folashade E, Steve A. Personal Hygiene Practices Among Secondary School Students in Esan Central Local Government Area, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria. World J Health Serv Res. 2026;1(1):63-70. doi: 10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17

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@article{10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17,
  author = {Inegbenosun Iluobe and Enahoro Folashade and Abah Steve},
  title = {Personal Hygiene Practices Among Secondary School Students in Esan Central Local Government Area, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria},
  journal = {World Journal of Health Services Research},
  volume = {1},
  number = {1},
  pages = {63-70},
  doi = {10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wjhsr.20260101.17},
  abstract = {Hygiene refers to the practices associated with ensuring good health and cleanliness. Personal hygiene therefore may be described as the principle of maintaining cleanliness and grooming of the external body. It is the general looking after oneself and leads to promotion and continuance of health. Components of personal hygiene includes food hygiene, menstrual hygiene, hair care, feet care, hands and skin care, But this study was on the last three components. The study was carried out to determine the standard of personal hygiene among students of secondary schools in Esan Central Local Government Area (L. G. A) in Irrua, Edo State. Method: The study was carried out in selected private and public secondary schools in Esan Central L. G. A in 2011. A total of 270 students were sampled using self-administered questionnaires. Data collected was then analyzed using the statistical package for scientific solution (SPSS) version. Result: The findings showed good knowledge of personal hygiene source of information being mainly school. Practice of hand washing, oral hygiene was first learned at school which ought to be at home but was found to be inadequate in majority of the respondents. Factors such as health education were found to affect brushing and hand washing positively. Conclusion: There is need for continued hygiene education to improve and sustain good hygiene practices among students.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Personal Hygiene Practices Among Secondary School Students in Esan Central Local Government Area, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
AU  - Inegbenosun Iluobe
AU  - Enahoro Folashade
AU  - Abah Steve
Y1  - 2026/09/27
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17
T2  - World Journal of Health Services Research
JF  - World Journal of Health Services Research
JO  - World Journal of Health Services Research
SP  - 63
EP  - 70
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260101.17
AB  - Hygiene refers to the practices associated with ensuring good health and cleanliness. Personal hygiene therefore may be described as the principle of maintaining cleanliness and grooming of the external body. It is the general looking after oneself and leads to promotion and continuance of health. Components of personal hygiene includes food hygiene, menstrual hygiene, hair care, feet care, hands and skin care, But this study was on the last three components. The study was carried out to determine the standard of personal hygiene among students of secondary schools in Esan Central Local Government Area (L. G. A) in Irrua, Edo State. Method: The study was carried out in selected private and public secondary schools in Esan Central L. G. A in 2011. A total of 270 students were sampled using self-administered questionnaires. Data collected was then analyzed using the statistical package for scientific solution (SPSS) version. Result: The findings showed good knowledge of personal hygiene source of information being mainly school. Practice of hand washing, oral hygiene was first learned at school which ought to be at home but was found to be inadequate in majority of the respondents. Factors such as health education were found to affect brushing and hand washing positively. Conclusion: There is need for continued hygiene education to improve and sustain good hygiene practices among students.
VL  - 1
IS  - 1
ER  -

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