Family Health (I) – JSS1 Basic Science Lesson Note (First Term)

Family health in this lesson covers keeping our surroundings and our bodies free from dirt and germs. Sanitation keeps the environment clean by removing solid and liquid waste. Personal hygiene is the practice of caring for our bodies through cleanliness. Poor hygiene can lead to infections, body odour and skin diseases.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• define sanitation, personal cleanliness and personal hygiene;
• list ways of keeping the body clean;
• state the advantages and disadvantages of personal hygiene;
• name the two levels of personal hygiene;
• list factors that lead to a low level of personal hygiene.

What is sanitation?

Sanitation is the process of keeping places free from dirt and germs, which cause infections and diseases. This is done by removing waste products (both solid and liquid) from the environment. It is also the process of maintaining cleanliness.

What is personal cleanliness?

Personal cleanliness is the way of keeping germs away from our bodies to maintain a healthy state. Germs are organisms that are capable of causing diseases in our bodies.

What is personal hygiene?

Personal hygiene is the practice of taking care of our body to lead a healthy life. The science and practice of maintaining good health through cleanliness is called hygiene.

Ways of keeping our body clean

1. Clean your teeth at least twice daily.
2. Always wash your body daily by bathing.
3. Wash your hair always and comb it to make it look neat.
4. Always wash and keep your clothes neat.
5. Cut and keep your fingernails clean.
6. Wash and clean your ears regularly.
7. Clean your nose with a clean handkerchief always.
8. Wash your hands before and after meals and also after using the toilet.

Advantages of personal hygiene

1. Good health
2. Happiness
3. Emotional stability
4. High self-esteem
5. Social acceptability

Disadvantages of poor personal hygiene

1. It makes people prone to germs or infections.
2. It causes body odour and skin diseases.
3. It can lead to mouth odour, tooth decay, toothache, etc.
4. Dirty hair can lead to the presence of lice in the hair.
5. Germs may be swallowed if the hands are dirty.
6. Wearing dirty clothes makes one look untidy.

What are the levels of personal hygiene?

The two levels of personal hygiene are:

1. Low level of personal hygiene: This occurs when someone wears clean clothes but dirty underwear, with dirty armpits, overgrown hair, dirty teeth and nails.
2. High/Optimal level of personal hygiene: This occurs when someone takes proper care of both their outward appearance and their underwear.

Factors that lead to a low level of personal hygiene

1. Ignorance
2. Tradition
3. Lack of time
4. Nonchalant attitude

Evaluation

1. What is sanitation?
2. Define cleanliness.
3. Mention the two levels of personal hygiene.
4. List four advantages of personal hygiene.

Assignment

1. List four disadvantages of poor personal hygiene.
2. Write down four factors that lead to a low level of personal hygiene.