Influence of Health Education on Personal Hygiene Practices among Students of Adamawa State University, Mubi, Nigeria

Personal hygiene is a critical determinant of health, especially in communal settings such as university campuses. This study examined the influence of health education on personal hygiene practices among undergraduate students of Adamawa State University, Mubi, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted using structured questionnaires administered to 352 students. The study assessed hygiene behaviors including handwashing, bathing, oral care, and waste disposal, and analyzed their association with exposure to health education interventions such as workshops, peer-led campaigns, and media outreach. Results revealed that while most students had some exposure to health education, significant gaps in hygiene practices persisted. Notably, 21.9% of students did not consistently wash hands after toilet use, and 37.5% brushed their teeth less than twice daily. Logistic regression analysis identified workshop attendance as the strongest predictor of good hygiene behavior (OR = 2.15, p = 0.001), followed by media exposure (OR = 1.78, p = 0.015) and peer campaign participation (OR = 1.52, p = 0.045). The study concludes that health education positively influences hygiene behavior, but its effectiveness depends on continuity, cultural relevance, and infrastructural support.