Environmental Studies Journal
Volume 2, No. 1, 2023
Pages 33-43
DOI: 10.36108/esj/3202.20.0130
Assessment of Undergraduate Students’ Environmental Health Knowledge and Practices
ARIMIYAU, Kafayat1, DAVID, Jane2, YUSUF, Hajara Oyiza3
1Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Lagos, Nigeria
2Medical Biotechnology Department, National Biotechnology Development Agency Abuja
3Environmental Biotechnology and Bio conservation Department, National Biotechnology Development Agency,, Abuja
*Corresponding Author- Email: kafayatarimiyau@yahoo.com
Abstract
The knowledge of anyone about the environment will be the basis in determining how he/she acts regarding environmental hazards. With environmental health been promoted, threats subsist mainly because of individual’s behavior and practices in reaction to likely health hazards. This study aims at assessing University of Abuja undergraduate students’ (those living outside the school hostel) level of knowledge and associated practices of environmental health with their day-to-day activities. The data for the study was collected using 3 sections (demographic attribute, Knowledge of the Students about the Environment and Environment Practices by the Students) well-structured questionnaire. The findings shows that participants lack general knowledge concerning environmental health-related challenges. The male gender scores (M=69.91, SD=9.9) and Female (M=70.31, SD=10.3) were found not to be significant, t(238) = -0.309, p > 0.05 with their environmental health knowledge. The interconnection between environment knowledge and practices shares a positive correlation between them (r = 0.206, n = 240, p =0 .05) and statistically significant. It could be submitted that the undergraduate students in this study do not have much knowledge about the environment. Since knowledge influence an individual’s style and practice, persisting efforts and dedication in environmental health education ought to be more pronounce and reflect identified environmental health practices and ways to improve.
Keywords: Environmental health, Knowledge, Practice, Students, Abuja