Training of Primary School Teachers in Health and Its Effect on School Health Education

No Thumbnail Available

Date

1994-05

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Addis Ababa University

Abstract

A retrospective-cohort study was carried out in Northeastern Ethiopia to assess the impact of health training of primary school teachers on health knowledge and practice of their students with regard to personal hygiene and the environmental health conditions of the schools. The required information to assess knowledge was collected using a pretested questionnaire. Observation formats were developed to assess the hygienic status of the students and environmental health situations of the schools. Focus group discussions were conducted with the trained teachers on how to improve the school heal th education activities. Data analysis was carried out using EPI-INFO version 5 and SAS computer statistical packages. The results showed improvement in the total mean knowledge score of teachers who received training compared to the control groups (F-stat. 3.47, P:0.04). Though the difference was not statistically significant . Students of the trained teachers also showed a higher mean knowledge score compared to both control-l and control - 2 groups P: <0.001). The Mean hygienic score of students of the trained teachers was found to be higher compared to the students in the comparison groups, (p < 0.001). The environmental health status of~h~ schools with trained teacher~ ~ 2 ~ ~e~~e~ t~a~ ~ h ~ s chools without trained teachers . The study has demonstrated the positive impact that training school teachers have in improving the health knowledge and practice of the school communi ty. Recommendations are given regarding further training of school teachers in health along with the improvement of school sanitary facilities and the inclusion of health education in primary school curriculum.

Description

Keywords

Citation

Collections