An analysis of health inspection as a component of school health service, in Kwazulu-Natal.
Loading...
Date
2000
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Introduction
In 1996 there were 1,847,440 pupils in 4007 primary schools in KwaZulu-Natal
(KZN) who were targeted for school Health Inspection (HI). In the same year
there were only 95 school health teams who were visiting schools for HI. The
School Health Service (SHS) had been running on a racial basis since the
Apartheid era of government, and needed to be reviewed in order to measure
its effectiveness and to make it relevant to the new government and its new
health policies.
Purpose
To review HI as a key component of School Health Services (SHS) and make
recommendations to improve it's impact on the health of the school child and
on health promotion in schools.
Objectives
To describe the structure, process, output and outcome of HI in KZN; to
measure the impact of HI on the health of school children; and to calculate the
SHS consultation cost and compare it with other primary health care services.
Methodology
A cross sectional study involving 21 schools covered by the SHS and 5 schools
not covered by SHS was undertaken. The study area was KZN and the
sample area was Indlovu region. All health authorities and racial groups
participated in the study.
Results
A total of 212 children and 129 parents were interviewed. Of the children
interviewed, 156 pupils (73.5%) had been involved in HI and 56 (26%) had
not.
The average nurse/pupil ratio was 1:49301. HI coverage was 62%. Of the 156
pupils examined, 108 were referred and 53% of them went for treatment.
93 % of parents interviewed gave a positive comment on HI and 24.8 % of them
did not know their children's problems before they were informed by the
SHN. Std. 5 pupils interviewed before and after HI were compared and it
was found that 57% from the after-HI group went for treatment for their
health problems compared to 53% before HI. Subjective feelings improved
from 15% pain before HI to 0% after HI.
Conclusion
HI had a positive influence on encouraging pupils to seek recommended
treatment and this is likely to improve their health.
Description
Thesis (M.Med.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2000.
Keywords
Medical care--KwaZulu-Natal., Children--Diseases--Analysis., School health., School children--Health and hygiene., Theses--Public health medicine.