Impact of a Health Education Intervention Program on Personal Hygiene Knowledge and Attitude Among Female Adolescents from Selected Secondary Schools in Lagos State, Nigeria

Background: Personal hygiene is a practice that preserves health and prevents diseases particularly through personal cleanliness of the individual and good personal hygiene practices are critical to preventing infectious diseases and improving health outcomes. However, this study examined the impact of health education intervention programs on personal hygiene knowledge and attitude among female adolescents from selected secondary schools in Lagos State, Nigeria. Methodology: The quasi-experimental research approach was employed for the study. The population was 1,500 students. A sample size of 30 students for each group was derived using Cochran’s formula. A systematic sampling technique was used to group the participants into experimental group (EG) and control group (CG) by selecting every 2nd student on class register. EG was assigned to health education modules on personal hygiene for 1 hour once weekly and CG had a training on prevention of HPV for 1 hour once a week, both for six weeks. Two research assistants were trained for 1 hour over a period of two days to serve as health educators. A structured validated questionnaire with Cronbach’s alpha reliability index ranging from 0.75 to 0.80 was used to collect data. Data was collected at baseline, immediate post-intervention and six weeks follow-up. Data was analysed using descriptive, and inferential statistics at 5% level of significance. Results: Findings showed that at baseline, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the mean scores of personal hygiene knowledge for the experimental group (17.06± 0.65) and the control group (18.82± 0.40). Also, at baseline, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the mean scores of personal hygiene attitude for the experimental group (5.03 ± 0.54) and the control group (6.67 ± 0.31). Furthermore, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the mean scores of personal hygiene knowledge between baseline for EG (17.06 ± 0.65) and 12th week follow-up (23.40 ± 0.17), and there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the mean scores of personal hygiene attitude between baseline for EG (5.03 ± 0.54) and 12th week follow-up (11.47 ± 0.14). There was also a significant difference (p >0.05) in the knowledge and perception of personal hygiene among female adolescents in the control group and artisans in the experimental group at 12th follow-up. Conclusion: The post intervention evaluation of personal hygiene knowledge and attitude among female adolescents in selected secondary schools in Lagos State has proven that the level of knowledge of participants on personal hygiene is very high. It was recommended that personal hygiene be closely tied to the availability of water and sanitation facilities. Therefore, every school should collaborate with local government authorities through advocacy for the water and sanitation facilities.