Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of School Health among Primary School Teachers in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The School health programme is designed to promote the optimal physical, emotional, social and educational development of students. Teachers play a major role in the promotion and successful implementation of the Programme. Objective: To determine and compare teachers knowledge, attitude and practice of the school health programme in urban and rural schools in Ogun state, Nigeria. Methodology : This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in public primary schools in Ifo (urban) and Ikenne (rural) Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ogun State. A multistage sampling method was used to select teachers in each Local Government Area. Data was collected using self administered questionnaires and analysed using the EPI-Info 6 statistical software. Results: Although majority of the respondents in both LGAs were aware of the school health programme , (Ifo 97.4%, Ikenne 97.3%), more than half of the respondents, (Ifo 57.0%, Iken-ne54.5%) had poor knowledge of school health. Majority of the respondents in Ifo (98.7%) and Ikenne(98.3%) felt that the school health programme is desirable and necessary. School health programme is in place in most schools in both LGAs (Ifo 77.3%, Ikenne 73.2%). However many key components are poorly practiced. Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference in the knowledge (p= 0.209) and practice (p=0.313) of school health in rural and urban LGAs. In service training on school health should be provided for teachers and the needed resources should be made available for the full implementation of all components of school health in all schools.

Status of knowledge regarding school health services among school teachers: a cross sectional study from a northern Indian state

“…12 A study conducted by Odeyemi et al has revealed that 55.7% of participants had a poor level of knowledge regarding school health. 13 The findings of the present study are better than the findings of Gowri et al where 78% of school teachers did not have adequate knowledge, 22% had moderately adequate knowledge and none of the teachers had adequate knowledge regarding the health care of school children. 6 Abubakar et al has found that only 8% of participants were having a good level of knowledge.…”

Knowledge of School Health Programme among Public Primary School Teachers in Sokoto Metropolis, Northwestern Nigeria

“…15,16 Therefore, the success of school-based health programme relies on their knowledge, attitude and perspective on the health needs of students. 6 This study is very important in the sense that apart from establishing the current status of knowledge of SHP among primary school teachers in our locality, it would provide a basis for conducting health education intervention in improving knowledge of SHP as earlier documented in previous studies. [17][18][19] Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the knowledge of school health programme among primary school teachers in Sokoto metropolis, northwestern, Nigeria.…”

“…This is particularly relevant in a developing country like Nigeria where many children of school age are survivors in an environment of very high perinatal, neonatal, infant and under-five mortality rates. 5 School-age children account for about 23 percent of the population in the average community in Nigeria, 6 and their health status and indices are useful in determining a nation's state of development. 6 The role of teachers in the school health programme is very crucial, because of their opportunity to influence large numbers of children and their parents and enable schools integrate health initiatives in such a way as to address many of the children and societal health issues.…”

“…5 School-age children account for about 23 percent of the population in the average community in Nigeria, 6 and their health status and indices are useful in determining a nation's state of development. 6 The role of teachers in the school health programme is very crucial, because of their opportunity to influence large numbers of children and their parents and enable schools integrate health initiatives in such a way as to address many of the children and societal health issues. 6,14 Teachers are well respected and are viewed as role models by their students and they have an important impact on their learning and action.…”

“…6 The role of teachers in the school health programme is very crucial, because of their opportunity to influence large numbers of children and their parents and enable schools integrate health initiatives in such a way as to address many of the children and societal health issues. 6,14 Teachers are well respected and are viewed as role models by their students and they have an important impact on their learning and action. 15,16 Therefore, the success of school-based health programme relies on their knowledge, attitude and perspective on the health needs of students.…”