Sickness Absenteeism Rate in Iranian Schools During the 2009 Epidemic of Type A Influenza

Abstract

Influenza pandemic was a global event in 2009 and intraschool transmission was its main spread method. The present study was designed to evaluate the absenteeism rate during the type A influenza epidemic. Four hundred and eight students from both a guidance school and high school in the Iranian capital were recruited in this retrospective study. The number of days of absenteeism, since the beginning of the school year until the end of the epidemic was recorded. Two hundred and thirteen students missed school during the disease epidemic because of related causes. In other words, 581 person day absences were reported during this period. The influenza pandemic has led to an increase in the absenteeism rate and may negatively affect the academic performance of the students. Teaching precautionary measures is an effective tool in reducing the number of days of sickness.

Estimating the nationwide transmission risk of measles in US schools and impacts of vaccination and supplemental infection control strategies

“…High incidence of measles among healthy children gives rise to considerable morbidity [ 3 ], which, in turn, makes the role of school environments crucial in the spread of measles in the community. It is shown that the transmission of respiratory illnesses such as measles in schools leads to large excesses in expenses associated with healthcare, absence from school, and reduction in students’ productivity [ 4 – 7 ].…”

Prevalence of Sickness Absence and Its Sociodemographic and Occupational Factors in a Public Service Organization

“…A study done among the staff of primary care practice found that work-related stress predicted sick-leave [5]. In a study in Iran, it was found that sickness absenteeism was due infective cause which was due to Influenza endemic that happened at that time [11].…”

Student absenteeism and the comparisons of two sampling procedures for culturable bioaerosol measurement in classrooms with and without upper room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation devices

“…Available review has found that absenteeism has a positive relationship with severity of the disease in both schools and offices. 4 Researchers in recent years kept drawing similar conclusions, such as the increase of the absenteeism rate during an influenza pandemic in Iranian schools, 36 and an intervention to control both the rates of absenteeism and respiratory illnesses in a single elementary school system. 37 There are several limitations of this study.…”