Assessment of facilities, safety conditions and prevalence of accident in selected public secondary schools in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

Poor facilities in public secondary schools is creating high-risk environment for students’ learning. This study assessed the unsafe conditions and prevalence of accident among selected public secondary schools in Ibadan, Nigeria.  

A descriptive cross-sectional survey, using a 10-point and 17-point scale to assess respondents’ knowledge and attitude on unsafe conditions and accidents was adopted. Microbiological analysis of food from vendors and on-site observations of schools facilities and sanitary conditions were assessed using 14-item and 21-item checklist respectively. Water quality was analyzed using standard methods and compared with WHO standards. Data were analyzed using SPSS (20.0).

Mean age of respondents was 14.69±2.0 years and 38.7% reported overcrowding (40-59 per class) Only 39.4% of them had access to water, 25.5% uses basket with cover as waste storage container and 68.8% engaged in waste burning as disposal method. Precisely 42% uses Pit latrine for excreta disposal. About half (56.7%), reported schools’ food vendor as the major source of their food. Only 7.5% and 4.8% of the respondents have good knowledge and attitude on unsafe acts, conditions and accidents respectively. Many (96.2%) have had accidents in the schools. Heavy metals detected were below the WHO standards while E coliwere not detected. All school facilities had poor sanitary conditions and there was absence of safety programs in the schools.

High occurrence of accidents among the students could be attributed to deplorable conditions and poor safety practices and awareness. Therefore, there is a need to improve safety education and practices in public secondary schools.