ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH NEED OF ALMAJIRI PUPILS

ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH NEED OF ALMAJIRI PUPILS

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Background of the study

Almajiri system of education is an old norm widely known in northern Nigeria and other neighbouring countries , that is still under practice (Khalid ,2001; Nigeria Research Network,2013).It is a system whereby there is a school headed by Malam (teacher ) ,who teaches students ( Almajirai) on Islamic knowledge ( Quran and relations) .These students (Almajirai ) leave their parents and stay at schools ( Almajiri school / Makarantar Allo or Zaure) away from their towns or villages and without enough resources to endure their needs ( Amzat, 2015). The Almajiri migrant Islamic pupil or student is usually a male ( sometimes female ) who leave home and go to another destination in search for Islamic knowledge (Mohammed et al, 2015).They can be seen in the streets of cities and rural areas. But some of them stays at schools for several years without going home or been visited by wards or parents (Abari and Audi, 2013; NRN, 2013). Before the inception of colonial forces ,Almajiri schools and students were shoulded by the system of Zakat and Government treasury ,and other endowments or charities .Consequently,they were in good condition then ,but after colonization the government halted the funding and the system suffers ( Gomment and Esomchi, 2017).Instead the Almajiri students are sent to schools without or with little resources to live with ,even the teachers have little or no support .That is why, they are in deplorable conditions suffering numerous problems, despite been highly populated and congested with children of age 5- 19 in most cases (Yunusa ,1994; NRN, 2013 ; Amzat ,2015). In most cases in Almajiri schools reading is performed in the morning, or afternoon or night, this allow them to go and wander about for their activities. Classes are usually under trees or in zaure (mud houses) ,in open air or relations and blazing fire is used as source of lighting and warming in some schools .Pupils or students sit on bare floor or mats .Some of the classes are also serving as sleeping hostels ,but they are overcrowded and mostly untidy .While the predominant method of teaching is coercive ,with Malam or superior student beating them or punishing them when need arise or during recitation .These are some of the features unique to Almajiri in most of the places where it is done ( Aghedo and Eke, 2013; NRN ,2013). Determinants of health are a range of personal ,social ,and environmental factors that influence health .Social determinants of health ( SOD) are social ,physical and environmental factors in which people are born ,live ,learn ,play, work and age ( North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, 2018). The determinants of health refers to the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age and related politics therein.They are crucial in the lives of all, especially the children and youngsters (Every Women Every Child, 2015). Clearly, social determinants are fundamental elements of the causal pathways to ill health or disease .They influence present and future health (Jianghong et al., 2009).70% of person's health is driven by social determinants of health ( National Association of State Offices of Rural Health ,2017). Social determinants shows strong association with health .They are fundamental elements in the causal pathways to ill health and disease. Thus, they indirectly affect our current and future wealth ,health ,and development through impacting on children and youngsters ( Jianghong et al., 2009).Children are happier if they live in decent houses ,in safe neigbourhoods ,are not bullied, enjoy in schools ,achieve their goals educationally ,and not deprived materially (Bonnefoy, 2007.).Education ,income ,status/power ,nutrition, environmental factors ,rights etc are examples of determinants of health .Being them good or bad spin the health of a kid or youngster either positively or negatively ( National Childrens Buraeu, 2016; Lovell and Bibby, 2018)). The need to focus on infancy, childhood and youngness time is very important, because evidence reveals early years of life play vital role in the future life, let alone the health inequalities distribution (Jianghong et al., 2009; Ministry of Health and Policy of Spain, 2010).Of recent, World Health Organization (WHO) Comission on Social Determinants of Health Final Report stated the three principles for curbing health inequalities. These are: improve daily living conditions, tackle the inequitable distribution of power, money, and resources, measure and understand the problem and assess the impact of action .It further highlighted the need for investments on early childhood development and interventions (Jianghong et al., 2009).Almajiri system has now turned to an adverse child experience (ACE) .ACE affects children's cognitive, behavioural and physical development which in turn predicts present and future health. Biological changes which take place at tender ages because of social and related determinants become embedded in children's body .But the effects of ACE can be relieve using high quality interventions ( Bharmal et al.,2015). The main aim of this study is to assess the health need of Almajiri pupils.

​​​​​​​Statement of the problem

Almajiri pupils like all other children have health and social needs that are unfulfilled. Most Tsangaya school pupils fall within childhood stage, basic developmental conditions are required to be fulfilled in order to ensure sound mental health among the pupils. According to Mental Health America (n.d), unconditional love, self-confidence, self-esteem, play, encouragement from teachers, security, guidance and discipline are basic conditions for a child’s good health condition. Ironically, Almajiri pupils being mainly immigrants from neighboring cities/towns lacks some of the aforementioned requirements. Hence, the need to assess the health need of almajiri pupils.

​​​​​​​Objective of the study

The broad objective of the study is to assess the health need of almajiri pupils. Hence, the specific objectives is as follows:

1. To determine the extent of almajiri practice in Nigeria.
2. To examine whether Almajiri pupils have access to health care facility
3. To find out the health needs of Amajiri pupils

Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

1. What is the extent of almajiri practice in Nigeria?
2. Does the Almajiri pupils have access to health care facility?
3. What are the health needs of Amajiri pupils?

Significance of the study

This research will be very beneficial and valuable not just to academics, but also to public administration and the community at large, particularly in starting more realistic policies in the future.

Additionally, it will act as a repository of knowledge and a source of information for policymakers, the ministry of education, and stakeholders in the northern area, enabling them to adopt a realistic approach to the almajiri’s system of education and the  region's development.

1.6 Scope of the study

The study will determine the extent of almajiri practice in Nigeria. The study will also examine whether Almajiri pupils have access to health care facility. Finally, the study will find out the health needs of Amajiri pupils. Hence, the study is delimited to tsangaya school, Sabon Gari Kaduna State.

1.7 Limitations of the study

It is natural for humans to experience problems or difficulties in achieving specific goals. As a result, we encountered several challenges in completing this task. The issue may be traced back to a lack of funds to go to other firms for proper information gathering, which may have ringed the project. There are also issues with contacting some key individuals within the company who may offer the financial information required for the research. Another issue was that management was not permitted to reveal any further information.

1.8 Definition of terms

Almajiri: Under the Almajiri system, parents send their children, mostly boys aged 4-12, to distant locations to acquire Qur'anic education. Many rural and poor families who can't afford formal schooling have made this choice.

Health: the state of being free from illness or injury

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