CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Communicable disease is defined as an illness that arises from transmission of an infectious agent (viruses, bacteria, chlamydiae, richettsiae, fungi, protozoa or metozoa) or its toxic product from an infected person, animal or reservoir to a susceptible host, either directly or indirectly through an intermediate plant or animal host, vector, or environment (AMREF, 2004). Prevalence is a measure of disease that allows us to determine a person’s likelihood of being ill.

During the modern era of public health, attention to the natural and built environment has fluctuated (McMichael, 2001).Public health scientists are increasingly discovering that the recent emergence of infectious diseases has an origin in environmental change (McMichael & Martens, 2002; Patz et al., 2000). However, a growing body of literature on environmental change and infectious disease has emerged during the past decade, returning public health to its roots (Anderson, 2004).

Communicable diseases still dominate the morbidity profile in Kenya. Majority of Kenyans continue to seek treatment in health care facilities for ailments that can be controlled through preventive and promotive measures (WHO, 2007). The burden of communicable diseases is high, with malaria as the leading cause of morbidity (30%) (WHO, 2005) followed by respiratory diseases (24.5%).

David (2013) reports there are several ways of categorizing communicable diseases. However, World Health Organization uses three guiding principles for prioritization: [i] communicable diseases with large scale impact on mortality, morbidity and disability, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), tuberculosis (TB) and malaria, [ii] communicable diseases that can potentially cause epidemics, such as influenza and cholera; and [iii] communicable diseases that can be effectively controlled with available cost effective interventions, such as diarrheal diseases and tuberculosis (TB) (WHO, 2005). The leading six communicable diseases mentioned by World Health Organization, which cause almost 90% of communicable disease deaths, are: acute respiratory infections (including pneumonia and influenza), human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), diarrheal diseases, tuberculosis, malaria and measles.

 Dokun Oyosola (1995) stressed that a quality environment is important for the promotion of man’s well being but in the process of man striving to control his environment. He has made his environment a greater threat to his health and life as a result of his technologies and industrial advancement. Thus, in the process of finding a better means of living man has succeeded in destroying the environment in which he lives, this observed in air and water. The school system in Nigeria is not exempted from the environmental health problems, in many schools; the environment is not child friendly. Most of these schools have no adequate water supply, refuse disposal and toilet facilities. This does not agree with a well healthy school environment.

          Environmental health problems can be described as man-made hazards to human health. Notable among which are water pollution. This means that despite considerable advances in providing better living condition for human, the environment continue to suffer the outcome of the numerous technological advancement. The school environment can become interesting, pleasant and conducive to teaching learning situation if the serenity of the environment is captivating and sanitarily maintained for the purpose of the control of communicable diseases are charged with the responsibility of undertaking routine inspection. This inspection is done to control communicable diseases in schools.

1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

School based health programme is a very important medium for addressing the health needs of children and adolescents. The World Health Organization stipulates that school health programmes should include HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, violence and injury, unintended pregnancy and poor reproductive health, helminth infection, poor nutrition and food safety, poor sanitation and water control, lack of immunization, poor oral health, malaria, respiratory infections, psychological problems, alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug abuse (WHO, 1997). The World Bank and the United Nations Children’s Fund however have an essential public health package for school programmes which includes treatment of worm infections and micro nutrient deficiency and provision of health education (World Bank, 1993; UNICEF, 1995).

Although health education is learnt as a subject in many Nigerian primary and secondary schools, the implementation of school based health programmes has not been effective. Most health programmes are directed towards saving under five children from so called killer diseases through immunizations and other mechanisms such as the roll back malaria programme. Underlying this focus on younger children is the general idea that those above five years would have developed significant immunity to communicable diseases (WHO, 2000a; WHO, 2000b). Because of this adolescent group are most times neglected, more disturbing is the fact that therapies are readily accessible in Nigerian markets, even on the streets without prior medical consultation (Adome et al., 2000). Therefore, in the light of above and the gaps in existing literature; the study will try to investigate the cause-effects and control of communicable diseases among secondary school in Billiri L.G.A

1. AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study is to investigate the cause-effect and control of communicable diseases in secondary school in Billiri L.G.A of Gombe State.

Specifically, the study seeks to:

1. Identify common diseases at school and medicines used to restore normality in secondary school in Billiri L.G.A
2. Ascertain whether communicable diseases spread rapidly in dirty environment
3. Examine whether poverty of parents and lack of essential resources in the community enhance the spread of communicable diseases in the environment
4. know efforts School based health programme have put towards the control manner of communicable diseases

1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions will be addressed in the study:

1. What are the common diseases at school and medicines used to restore normality in secondary school in Billiri L.G.A?
2. Do communicable diseases spread rapidly in dirty environment?
3. Does poverty of parents and lack of essential resources in the community enhance the spread of communicable diseases in the environment?
4. What efforts have school based health programme put towards the control manner of communicable diseases?
   1. STATEMENT OF THE HYPOTHESIS

The following hypothesis will be formulated to guide the study:

H0 there is no significant relationship between cause and effect of communicable disease in secondary school

H1 there is significant relationship between cause and effect of communicable disease in secondary school

1. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study is to investigate the cause-effects and control of communicable diseases in secondary school. However, the finding of this research will be beneficial to students, school administrators, parents, health institutions, other concerned individuals and institutions.

It will help to educate students against the problems of communicable diseases and will equally render possible solutions.

It will help the Ministry of Education plan for seminars and in-service training on communicable diseases to enhance the effectiveness of various academic institutions.

1. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study focuses mainly on the investigation into the cause-effects of communicable diseases in secondary school, specifically; the interest of the study will be restricted to secondary school in Billiri local government area of Gombe State. The focus of the study will be on the common diseases at school and medicines used to restore normality in secondary school in Billiri L.G.A; how communicable diseases spread rapidly in dirty environment; it will examine whether poverty of parents and lack of essential resources in the community enhance the spread of communicable diseases in the environment; and efforts school based health programme have put towards the control manner of communicable diseases.

1. LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

TIME CONSTRAINTS: One the challenges experienced by the researcher is the issue of time; the research will simultaneously engage in departmental activities like seminars and attendance to lectures. But the researcher was able to meet up with the deadline for the submission of the project.

FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS: Every research work needs funding; however lack of adequate funds might affect the speed of the researcher in getting materials for completion of the project.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Air Borne Diseases: These are diseases one can get through breathing in, contaminated air of which virus or bacteria cause the particular disease.

Communicable diseases: Communicable diseases are diseases that can be transferred from one person to the other.

Diseases: A disease is a departure from normal health.

Endemic: This is a disease which is always present in a particular community e.g. malaria.

Water borne diseases: These are diseases that can be gotten through water that is contaminated

Environment

Simply means 'surroundings' (environs); hence the environment of an individual, object, element or system includes all of the other entities with which it is surrounded. However, in reality, individuals, objects, elements and systems rarely exist in isolation; instead, they tend to interact to varying extents with their surrounding entities.