Thesis Abstract

Abstract
This research project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of health education as a tool for eradicating communicable diseases among primary school pupils. Communicable diseases are a significant public health concern, especially among school-aged children who are more vulnerable to infections due to their close proximity and interaction with peers. Health education plays a crucial role in raising awareness, promoting healthy behaviors, and preventing the spread of communicable diseases in school settings. The study will utilize a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of health education programs on communicable disease prevention among primary school pupils. Quantitative data will be collected through surveys and assessments to measure changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to communicable disease prevention before and after the implementation of health education interventions. Qualitative data will be gathered through interviews and focus group discussions to explore the perceptions and experiences of primary school pupils, teachers, and parents regarding the effectiveness of health education in promoting disease prevention. The research will be conducted in a sample of primary schools selected based on their demographic characteristics and prevalence of communicable diseases. Health education interventions will be implemented in collaboration with school authorities, teachers, and health professionals to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of the programs. The impact of the interventions will be assessed through pre- and post-intervention evaluations, comparing baseline data on communicable disease knowledge and practices with outcomes following the implementation of health education initiatives. The findings of this study are expected to provide valuable insights into the role of health education in eradicating communicable diseases among primary school pupils. By evaluating the effectiveness of health education programs, this research aims to identify best practices and strategies for promoting disease prevention in school settings. The results will contribute to the development of evidence-based interventions to improve the health and well-being of primary school pupils and reduce the burden of communicable diseases in the community.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

1.1      Background of the study

A communicable disease is an illness caused by a specific infectious agent or it’s toxic products(1) .It arises through transmission of that agent or its products from an infected person or animal to a susceptible host either direct or indirectly through an intermediate plant or animal host ,vector or the inanimate environment (2). Infectious disease can be a major cause of illness among children and can affect a child’s schooling by causing absenteeism .They may in turn, affect other children and staff, and can prevent parents careers ability to work, especially where both parents careers work (3) .School health programs could not be fully implemented without having staff and parent’s cooperation and involvement .Parents, community leaders and teachers often can and do serve as role models for students. Students serve as a linkage with school and family while parents can and should cooperate with schools to help their children. (4)Communicable diseases spread quickly among students in the classroom, there must be gathered printable and advise for germ prevention in school (5). Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in public concern about communicable diseases in the schools all over the world .School administrations must find ways to strike a balance between protecting the general school population from exposure to dangerous communicable diseases and ensuring the infected student’s right to privacy and to public education. This study focuses on evaluation of health education as a tool to the prevention and control of communicable diseases among primary school pupils, excluding immunization and harm reduction interventions, which are the subjects of additional evidence. It takes its lead from two meetings, one held by Interior Health in November 2005 and a second by Vancouver Health Authority in February 2006, which focused on population health and health promotion, including specific sessions on their relevance to communicable diseases. Both meetings demonstrated the gap between the rich discourse located in academic literature on health promotion and population health and its application on the ground. More so, these meetings confirmed that health promotion strategies have not been a priority focus of communicable disease prevention initiatives. This was reconfirmed through a search of the literature and discussions with a key informant that has been intimately involved with international reviews of the evidence base for health promotion. Health protection strategies important to communicable diseases include those relevant to safe food, drinking water and recreational water, and adequate community sanitation. Preventive intervention strategies, which impact on communicable diseases, include primary prevention initiatives such as immunization and vector control, and early secondary prevention strategies such as post-exposure prophylaxis, screening and treatment of communicable diseases and contact tracing and management. Health assessment and disease surveillance strategies important for communicable disease prevention and control include detecting disease clusters and outbreaks through community-based, hospital-based, and clinical epidemiology, and laboratory surveillance networks, health promotion strategies important for communicable disease prevention and control, which are the focus of this evidence study, include a set of strategies that enable people to increase control over and improve their health. Health promotion strategies are considered to be equally valid for the prevention and control of communicable diseases, 1 despite the focus of this approach on non-communicable diseases, especially in the developed world. The Bangkok Charter, developed in August 2005, explicitly mentioned communicable diseases in its revised definition of health promotion. This renewed interest is also evident in Canada and can be ascribed to the growing concern about the threats posed by a number of communicable disease trends, such as the persistence of AIDS and hepatitis C, the advent of new and emergent diseases, and the continuing development of antimicrobial resistance. These concerns have served to emphasize the important contribution of health promotion strategies to the prevention and control of these diseases. Before turning to review the evidence for effectiveness of health promotion strategies in tackling communicable diseases, let us briefly locate health promotion within the core functions framework and review its parameters and the continuing evolvement of its philosophical constructs. The need for this is dictated by the largely conceptual basis of the Ottawa Charterii and similar health promotion frameworks, and the fact that in relation to their conceptual and strategic development, health promotion and public health are customers of social, behavioral and other sciences. This leads naturally into a consideration of a model to guide the assessment of the evidence of health promotion strategies in tackling communicable diseases.

1.2      STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Health promotion strategies are considered to be equally valid for the prevention and control of communicable diseases, despite the focus of this approach on non-communicable diseases, especially in the developed world. The Bangkok Charter, developed in August 2005, explicitly mentioned communicable diseases in its revised definition of health promotion. This renewed interest is also evident in Canada and can be ascribed to the growing concern about the threats posed by a number of communicable disease trends in the developing nation. It is in view of this that the researcher intends to evaluate the impact of health education in eradicating communicable disease among primary school pupils.

1.3      OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The main objective of the study is on evaluation of health education as a tool for eradicating communicable disease among primary school pupils; but to aid the completion of the study, the researcher intends to achieve the following objectives;

i)             To evaluate the effect of health education in minimizing communicable disease among primary school pupils

ii)           To ascertain the impact of health education on the health of pupils

iii)         To investigate the relationship between health education and the academic performance of the pupils

iv)         To ascertain the role of parent in educating the pupils on how to prevent communicable disease in schools

1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

To aid the completion of the study, the following research hypotheses was formulated by the researcher

H0:health education does not have any significant effect in minimizing communicable disease among primary school pupils

H1: health education does have a significant effect in minimizing communicable disease among primary school pupils.

H02: parent does not play any significant role in educating their kids on the dangers of communicable disease

H2: parent does play a significant role in educating their kids on the dangers of communicable disease

1.4      SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

At the completion of the study, the findings will be of great importance to parents, as the study seek to emphasis on the role of the parents in educating their wards on the possible measures of preventing communicable diseases in their school environment, the study will also be of importance to the teachers in imbibing a rigorous approach towards health education on the pupils. The study will also be of importance to researchers who intend to embark on study in similar topic as the study will serve as a reference point to the researcher.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers an evaluation of health education a tool for eradicating communicable disease among primary school pupils with emphasis on lea primary school Lugbe village, FCT Abuja. But in the cause of the study, there were some factors which limited the scope of the study;(a) Availability of research material: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study.

(b) Time: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

(c) Finance: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Communicable disease

How these diseases spread depends on the specific disease or infectious agent. Some ways in which communicable diseases spread are by: physical contact with an infected person, such as through touch (staphylococcus), sexual intercourse (gonorrhea, HIV), fecal/oral transmission (hepatitis A), or droplets (influenza, TB)

Health

Health is the level of functional and metabolic efficiency of a living organism. In humans it is the ability of individuals or communities to adapt and self-manage when facing physical, mental, psychological and social changes with environment. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in its broader sense in its 1948 constitution as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Education

Education is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits. Educational methods include storytelling, discussion, teaching, training, and directed research. Education frequently takes place under the guidance of educators, but learners may also educate themselves.

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the datacollection and analysis and presentation of finding. Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study