Hygien and sanitation problematic in primary school of Allada commune in Benin Republic (West Africa)

Abstract

The insufficiency of hygiene and sanitation in the Allada commune particularly influence the health of schoolchildren. This research analyzed the effects of the precariousness of the basic hygiene and sanitation practices on the health of schoolchildren in this commune. For this research, 600 schoolchildren were selected by random cluster survey to observe their hygiene practices and especially to measure the prevalence of helminthiasis. Data were collected through documentary research, questionnaire surveys, observation and microbiological analyses of stool collected from schoolchildren. Statistical analyses were performed using Epi Info version 7 software. The analysis shows that diseases linked to poor hygiene and sanitation are acted severely in the Allada commune and affect the health of schoolchildren. In fact, cases of gastrointestinal disorders were found in 51.80% of these schoolchildren. The parasites identified are mainly protozoa, responsible for gastroenteritis diseases. Faced with this result, which gives rise to concerns, it is important for the communal and government authorities to provide the commune’s schools with adequate sanitary infrastructure, to train educators in good hygiene and sanitation practices and to implement place school clubs for the promotion of hygiene and sanitation in order to reduce the vulnerability of the population of Allada commune.