IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS) e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861.Volume 14, Issue 3 Ver. III (Mar. 2015), PP 11-17 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0853-14331117 www.iosrjournals.org 11 | Page Evaluation of School Health Instruction in Primary Schools in Jos, North- Central Nigeria Bose O. Toma, 1 Tinuade O.Oyebode, 2 Gabriel I.O. Toma, 3 Mark D. Gyang, 4 Emmanuel I. Agaba 5 1.Department of Paediatrics, University of Jos (UJ)/Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria 2.Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Jos (UJ)/Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria 3.Meadowlands Hospital, Secaucus, NJ, USA 4. Department of Family Medicine, University of Jos (UJ)/Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria 5.Department of Medicine, University of Jos (UJ)/Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria Abstract: Background: Establishing healthy behaviours during childhood is easier and more effective than trying to change unhealthy behaviours during adulthood. The school is a place where education and health programmes can have their greatest impact because it can reach students at influential stages of their lives. We evaluated the status of school health instruction in public and private primary schools in Jos, Nigeria. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study involving 66 schools (20 public and 46 private) in Jos, was conducted to evaluate the status of school health instruction. A School Health Evaluation Scale was completed for each school by direct interview and inspection to ascertain the availability of the various components of school health instruction. Results: In 12 (18.2%) schools (5 public and 7 private), health education was taught by a professional health education teacher (p = 0.49). The most frequently taught topics were Personal Health and Safety Education (98.5% each). HIV/AIDS was taught by only 12.1% of the teachers. In most schools (61, 92.4%), health instruction was done in the classroom only. Only five (7.6%) schools, all private, had sent their teachers on in- service training with regard to health teaching. Overall, twenty- two (33.3%) schools, two (10.0%) public and 20 (43.5%) private attained the minimum acceptable score (p = 0.01). Conclusion: The status of school health instruction in primary schools in Jos was generally poor, especially in the public schools. Attention should be paid to the implementation of school health instruction including curriculum development, teaching methods and teacher training. Keywords: School health instruction, primary schools, Nigeria, health education. I. Introduction Globally, as at 2012, there were about 226 million children of primary school age out of which 136 million were in sub- Saharan Africa. 1 In Nigeria, the estimated primary school age population was 24.7 million out of which 17.4 million ( 70.4% ) were enrolled in school. 2 The net global primary school enrolment was 92% male and 90% female, while that for Nigeria was 71% male and 60% female. 3 Out of all the childhood age groups, the period of school age is the healthiest and it is one during which the foundations can be laid for a long and healthy life. Healthy children who become healthy adolescents are more likely to become healthy adults. Although relatively few children are likely to die at this age, however, many more may begin health risk behaviours that continue into adulthood and ultimately increase their risk of premature death. 4 The school is a place where education and health programmes can have their greatest impact because it can reach students at influential stages of their lives. Establishing healthy behaviors during childhood is easier and more effective than trying to change unhealthy behaviors during adulthood. Some of the best opportunities for positively influencing the health of young people and preventing the initiation of health risk behaviours are found in the school setting. 4 Worldwide, schools reach millions of students and through them their families and communities. 5 Therefore “the formal education system is the developing world’s broadest and deepest channel for putting information at the disposal of families, school personnel and community members as well as students” 6 School Health Instruction is a component of the School Health Programme. It is an avenue to inculcate into the school - aged child, healthy habits which he/she should maintain throughout his/her life. The School health Instruction thus provides a formal classroom opportunity for passing on to children, information