The effect of health surveillance and health education on primary school children

• Published in: Public health (London) Vol. 97; no. 3; pp. 171 - 175
• Main Authors: Lohsoonthorn, Paibool, Sukonthaman, Ubolratana, Kamolratanakul, Pirom, Viputsiri, Ongarj, Bhamornsathit, Suksa, Tattakorn, Voravit, Sresthabutra, Munee, Dhanamun, Bodi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.05.1983
• Subjects: Attitude to Health; Child; Child Behavior; Health Education; Humans; Population Surveillance; Thailand; Thailand
• ISSN: 0033-3506; 1476-5616
• DOI: 10.1016/S0033-3506(83)80091-2

The study of the effect of health surveillance and health education on primary school children was done in grades 3-6 of three primary schools in Cholburi province, eastern region of Thailand. They were randomly assigned as control school, Experiment 1 (health surveillance) school, and Experiment 2 (health surveillance and health education) school. Test scores of health knowledge increased with the grades of the school children. The mean differences between preliminary (pre-test) and subsequent test (post-test) scores of health knowledge in the Experiment 2 school and the control school were significant ( P < 0·01). Test scores for health practice concerning personal cleanliness of the Experiment 1 school and grades 5 and 6 of the Experiment 2 school were significantly different ( P < 0·01) and their mean differences were also significant when compared with the control school. The pre-test correlation coefficients of health knowledge and health practice scores in every grade of all schools showed no definite correlation. The common disease problems in these three primary schools were pediculosis (25·1%), pyoderma (20·8%), tines versicolor (8·8%) and enlarged tonsils (5·5%).