10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

The condition of sanitary facilities in primary schools remains a growing concern, as inadequate access to such facilities can negatively affect the health, dignity, and overall well-being of school pupils. This concern is particularly evident in rural and semi-urban communities where sanitation infrastructure is often overlooked. This study assessed the availability and utilisation of sanitary facilities in primary schools in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State. Two research questions and two null hypotheses were generated for the study. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised 9,197 primary school pupils in 71 primary schools in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State. A sample of 370 pupils was selected through a multistage sampling technique. Two researcher-designed instruments were used for data collection: the Checklist on the Availability of Sanitary Facilities in Primary Schools (AASFPS) and the Utilisation of Sanitary Facilities in Primary Schools Rating Scale (USFPSRS). Both instruments were face and content validated by lecturers in the Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education. Reliability coefficients of 0.80 and 0.81 were obtained for the AASFPS and USFPSRS respectively, using the test-retest method. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while independent samples t-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed a moderate level of availability of sanitary facilities (mean = 1.89) and a moderate level of utilisation (mean = 2.87). Significant differences were found in both availability (t(368) = .835, p < 0.05) and utilisation (t(236) = .341, p < 0.05) based on location. The study concludes that sanitary facilities in primary schools in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State are moderately available and moderately utilised, with school location playing a significant role in both availability and utilisation. It was recommended that government and education authorities should prioritise equitable distribution and provision of sanitary facilities across all school locations.