Abstract
Health determinants are factors that can influence our health either positively or negatively. This paper determined the factors that affect the health of Almajiri in their system of study in Gwadabawa local government of Sokoto state, Nigeria. Interview and visual observation were used to collect data, which was analyzed by thematic networks method. The result of this study was shown. Most (50.0%) of the Almajiri live in buildings own by school,whereas, 33.5% of them in donated buildings .There were three types of houses / classes where Almajiri live.Most (50.0%) were made of cement/modern style ,then (33.3%) the mud houses / classes, and (16.7%) were the ones from zinc .There were toilets for urination only ,no one was slated for defecation . In 75% of the schools there was no water, whereas 33.3% have water source from unprotected wells. In 33.3 % of the schools there was refuse dumps .In 33.3% there were no any source of risk. Whereas, in 16.7% there were gutters, and in 16.7% there were roads nearby. Personal hygiene was observed. 75.0% of Almajiri wore dirty garments.25.0% wore cleaned garments, 12.5% wore torn garments, and 87.5% wore untorn garments. 62.5% wore shoes and 37.5% have no shoes. 62.5% take bath weekly, 37.7% take bath daily. Interms of livelihood, most of them relied on begging for food; 25.0% do domestic work to get food and other needs. 70.0% of them eat twice in a day, 25.0% thrice, whereas, 5.0% once; in most cases. The result revealed many health determinants which can negatively affect the health of Almajiri.Keywords: health determinants, open defecation, overcrowding, begging, child labour
Highlights
Almajiri system of education is an old norm widely known in northern Nigeria and other neighbouring countries, that is still under practice (Khalid,2001; Nigeria Research Network,2013).It is a system whereby there is a school headed by Malam,who teaches students ( Almajirai) on Islamic knowledge ( Quran and relations) .These students (Almajirai ) leave their parents and stay at schools ( Almajiri school / Makarantar Allo or Zaure) away from their towns or villages and without enough resources to endure their needs ( Amzat, 2015)
Before the inception of colonial forces,Almajiri schools and students were shoulded by the system of Zakat and Government treasury,and other endowments or charities .,they were in good condition,but after colonization the government halted the funding and the system suffers ( Gomment and Esomchi, 2017).Instead the Almajiri students are sent to schools without or with little resources to live with,even the teachers have little or no support .That is why, they are in deplorable conditions suffering numerous problems, despite been highly populated and congested with children of age 519 in most cases (Yunusa,1994; NRN, 2013 ; Amzat,2015)
Classes are usually under trees or in zaure,in open air or relations and blazing fire is used as source of lighting and warming in some schools .Pupils or students sit on bare floor or mats .Some of the classes are serving as sleeping hostels,but they are overcrowded and mostly untidy .While the predominant method of teaching is coercive,with Malam or superior student beating them or punishing
Summary
Almajiri system of education is an old norm widely known in northern Nigeria and other neighbouring countries , that is still under practice (Khalid ,2001; Nigeria Research Network,2013).It is a system whereby there is a school headed by Malam (teacher ) ,who teaches students ( Almajirai) on Islamic knowledge ( Quran and relations) .These students (Almajirai ) leave their parents and stay at schools ( Almajiri school / Makarantar Allo or Zaure) away from their towns or villages and without enough resources to endure their needs ( Amzat, 2015). The need to focus on infancy, childhood and youngness time is very important, because evidence reveals early years of life play vital role in the future life, let alone the health inequalities distribution (Jianghong et al, 2009; Ministry of Health and Policy of Spain, 2010).Of recent, World Health Organization (WHO) Comission on Social Determinants of Health Final Report stated the three principles for curbing health inequalities These are: improve daily living conditions, tackle the inequitable distribution of power, money, and resources, measure and understand the problem and assess the impact of action .It further highlighted the need for investments on early childhood development and interventions (Jianghong et al, 2009).Almajiri system has turned to an adverse child experience (ACE) .ACE affects children's cognitive, behavioural and physical development which in turn predicts present and future health. The main aim of this paper is to determine some of the cultural, ecological, environmental and social factors that positively or negatively influence the health of Almajiri in Gwadabawa local government area, Sokoto state, Nigeria
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