Head Teachers’ Perception and Practice about School Feeding Services in Public and Private Primary Schools in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: The objectives of the School Feeding Services are to reduce hunger among school children. It will also increase school enrolment, attendance, retention and completion rates particularly among children in poor rural communities and urban neighbourhoods. This study was therefore designed to determine the head teachers’ perception and practice about school feeding services in public and private primary schools in Ogun state, Nigeria. Methods: The study was a comparative cross-sectional survey of Private and Public Primary Schools in Ogun State, Nigeria using a multi-stage sampling technique. Participants in the study were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed using the SPSS version 20.0.  Results: A total of 360 head teachers served as respondents for the study. School meals though available in 81% of the Schools in this study were not served by the schools. Meals were available for sale in 84% of the Public Schools by approved mobile or permanent food vendors within the school premises. In the Private Schools most of the foods were brought from the homes of the pupils as lunch packs. Food vendors/ handlers were not screened for any diseases in 56 (31.1%) Public Schools and 99 (60.4%) Private Schools (X2= 20.949, P= 0.001). No formal training or certification of handlers/ vendors had ever been done in 58 (32.2%) Public Schools and 109 (60.6%) of Private Schools (X2= 29.052, P= 0.001). Conclusion: This study indicates that perception about the School Feeding Services was better among the Public School Head Teachers than the Private School Head Teachers. The majority of students especially in the Private Schools are exposed to public health hazards through consumption of food from unscreened food vendors. Attention should be placed on the screening of food vendors/ handlers in elementary schools in Nigeria and other low income countries in order to prevent nutrition related diseases.