Evaluation of the effects of health education on endemic fluorosis in Jiangsu province in 2011 / 中国地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effect of health education on endemic fluorosis in Jiangsu province,and to provide reference data for further prevention and control of the disease.Methods In 2011,according to history prevalence of endemic fluorosis in Jiangsu province,a total of 10 countries were selected,and 3 townships were chosen in each county.Health educational activities were carried out in the classes of grade 4 - 6 in thecentral primary school.In the meantime,3 villages were chosen in each selected township where the health educational activities in the community were carried out.Before and after the health education activities,questionnaire surveys on knowledge of endemic fluorosis were conducted in each county.Thirty students in one classof the fifth grade in the central primary school were randomly selected,and 15 housewives near the central primaryschool were also randomly selected.Results After the health educational activities,the rates of knowledgeawareness in the students and the housewives were 95.90％ (2946/3072) and 92.85％ ( 1752/1887 ),respectively,and increased significantly compared with those before the intervention[71.53％(2015/2817),77.40％( 1384/1788 ) ],and the difference was statistically significant(x2 =657.337,174.894,all P ＜ 0.01 ).Before the health educational activities,the rates of knowledge awareness in the students were lower than those in the housewives,and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =6.120,P ＜ 0.05 ).After the health educational activities,the rates of knowledge awareness in the students were higher than those in the housewives,and the difference was statistically significant(x2 =21.847,P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionsThe rates of knowledge awareness in the students and the housewives are increased significantly after the health educational activities.The consciousness and activity of the target people to take part in preventing and controlling of the endemic fluorosis have been enhanced greatly.The good behaviors in the target people are gradually formed,the desired effect is achieved.