Study Centre Sanitary Conditions and Its Impact on Health and Academic Outcomes of Distance Learners at University of Cape Coast.

Abstract

This study examined the impact of Study Centre Sanitary and hygiene conditions and its impact on health and academic outcomes of Distance Learners at the University of Cape Coast (UCC). The major objective of the study was to find out how sanitary conditions at the host institutions used by the College of Distance Education (CoDE), as study centers for distance education (DE) delivery, impact on the health and academic status of distance education learners. Data was gathered using mainly self-developed and administered questionnaire. The simple random technique was used to select 300 DE learners from 10 study centers in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Approval by the Institutional Research and Ethics Committee of the University of Cape Coast and informed consent from study participants were sought. The results of the study indicated that the state of sanitary conditions and general hygiene practices at CoDE study centres was poor, unmaintained, and inadequate in almost all study centres. This demonstrated that investment in school infrastructure was not given the due priority. The negative impact on the health status and academic outcomes of learners were due to inadequate sanitary facilities despite learners’ knowledge on good personal hygiene and sanitation practices. The study concluded that physical sanitary facilities at CoDE study centres within the study area were in a deplorable state and inadequate for the learner population in the host institutions. Gaps were identified in school management of resources and enforcement of school health, hygiene and sanitation practices. It was recommended that (CoDE-UCC) collaborates with host institutions to improve sanitation and hygiene practices at the study centres for the benefit of learners.