Assessment of food security, living condition, personal hygiene health determinants and relations among Almajiri students in Sokoto metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

Almajiri are students’ is an ancient Islamic system of teaching. This paper assesses food security, personal hygiene, living condition, and violence in Almajiri. Survey using questionnaire and descriptive statistics, and x2 at p < 0.05 were used. Most schools were donated (66.7%), and minority (33.3%) were self-owned. Schools were built with zinc (33.3%), mud (33.3%), and modern tools (33.3%). There are urinals in all the schools (100.0%), overcrowding (100.0%), 66.7% have windows and doors, (33.3%) have no windows and doors. 66.% of the schools have mats for sitting, 33.3% have chairs. Risks found at schools are: open defecation (33.3%), and nearby water (66.7%). Majority of students stay for 4 months before returning home (66.7%), and significant portion of them return after graduation (33.3%). Pertaining personal hygiene 66.7% of the students’ wear shoes, 33.3% do not wear; 66.7% have cleaned clothes, 33.3% dirty clothes, there was no water at 66.7% of the schools, 33.3% have water. 66.7% wash hands after toilet, none wash hands before eating. On food security for Almajiri, 66.7% eat once, 33.3% eat twice daily. They eat Tuwo (33.3%), Gari (33.3%), and unspecified food (33.3%); source of food includes begging (33.3%), external labor (33.3%), and home (33.3%). Types of violence encountered are: weapon use (33.3%), fight (33.3%), and flogging (33.3%). Majority (66.7%) of students like western education, and (33.3%) replied no. All students are feeling their condition psychologically; some are at SS1 (33.3%), JSSI (33.3%), and (33.3%) never attend western school. Poor health determinants exist in Almajiri students in Sokoto.