Awareness and Utilisation of School Health Services Among Students in Public Secondary Schools in Sokoto State

School health services provide a critical safety net for students' physical and emotional wellbeing, yet their utilisation remains constrained by awareness gaps and service quality limitations in many Nigerian states. This study examines awareness and utilisation of school health services among students in public secondary schools in Sokoto State, North West Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted, with 340 students from 12 secondary schools in three local government areas completing a structured questionnaire assessing knowledge of available school health services, utilisation patterns, perceived service quality, and barriers to utilisation. Findings reveal that awareness of school health services is low, with only 44 percent of respondents correctly identifying at least three available services within their school. Actual utilisation of school health facilities within the preceding term is reported by only 29 percent of students. Barriers to utilisation include limited operating hours of health facilities, shortage of health personnel, mistrust of confidentiality, preference for self-medication, and inadequate awareness of available services. Female students report higher awareness and utilisation compared to male students. Schools with a designated health room and resident health personnel demonstrate utilisation rates nearly three times higher than schools without these provisions. Recommendations include expanding school health personnel deployment, conducting regular student orientation sessions on available health services, improving facility operating hours, and strengthening confidentiality assurances. Keywords: school health services, awareness, utilisation, secondary schools, Sokoto State