POLICY-TO-PRACTICE GAPS IN SCHOOL HEALTH, WATER AND SANITATION: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61841/v377my59Keywords:
first aid, Nigeria, policy-to-practice gap, school health, WASH, Health Education, PankshinAbstract
Schools can support adolescent health in ways that extend well beyond classroom teaching. This study examined how selected elements of Nigeria’s National School Health Policy were being implemented in secondary schools in Pankshin, Mangu and Kanke Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Plateau State. The assessment covered school health services, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), infrastructure and first-aid capacity. A descriptive, cross-sectional concurrent mixed-methods design was used in 10 schools, involving 200 students, 30 educators and 10 principals. Data were gathered through a questionnaire, an observation checklist and key-informant interviews. Analysis involved descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and thematic analysis. Five schools (50.0%) had on-site boreholes, while three (30.0%) had functional sickbays and two (20.0%) had trained first-aid officers. Gender-segregated toilets were available in five schools, but none met the study’s benchmark of one female toilet per 25 students. Only two schools (20.0%) had functional handwashing facilities supplied with soap. The differences tested across the three LGAs were not statistically significant. Principals described unpredictable funding, limited access to trained personnel, weaknesses in emergency response and dependence on community contributions as barriers to implementation. Overall, the findings point to a gap between policy expectations and conditions observed in the participating schools. Addressing it will require reliable funding, improved WASH facilities, first-aid training, adequate staffing and regular monitoring.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Emmanuel Owoicho Audu, Joseph Phillip Dangbin , Erima Adima Tongnan , Kumshin Joel Ashinnan, Ezekiel Kumnah Banmang, Ajiji Ama Markus (Author)
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