Assessment of Hand Hygiene Infrastructure and Practice in Public Primary Schools in Makurdi, Benue State

Adequate hand hygiene infrastructure in schools is a preventive foundation against enteric and respiratory disease transmission among school-age children. This study assesses hand hygiene infrastructure and practice in public primary schools in Makurdi, Benue State. A cross-sectional observational and survey design is applied to 20 public primary schools selected through stratified random sampling across five educational zones of Makurdi. School infrastructure is assessed through a standardised checklist covering handwashing facility availability, functionality, water supply reliability, and soap availability. Teacher knowledge of hand hygiene promotion is measured using a structured questionnaire, and pupil practice is evaluated through structured observation of handwashing behaviour at critical moments: before eating, after toilet use, and after outdoor play. SPSS is used for descriptive analysis, with chi-square tests examining associations between infrastructure adequacy and pupil practice rates. Evidence from the 2022 Nigeria WASH in Schools Mapping Survey reports that fewer than 25 percent of public primary schools in Benue State have functional handwashing facilities with water and soap simultaneously available. The WHO Five Moments for Hand Hygiene framework provides the normative reference for practice assessment. Findings will guide the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board on prioritised WASH infrastructure investment and school hygiene promotion programming. Keywords: hand hygiene, primary schools, WASH infrastructure, school health, Benue State.