The effect of health education on drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis in Gansu Province / 中华地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the effect of health education on drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis in Gansu Province, and provide evidence for further development of health education measures.Methods:In 2011-2013, 2016 and 2017, using prospective method, 16-19 drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis counties (cities, districts) were selected as project counties in Gansu Province each year, and 3 townships (towns) were selected in each project county. To carry out public health education activities on prevention and treatment of drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis, school health education activities were carried out in the classes of grade 4-6 in the central primary school; 3 administrative villages were selected in each township (town) to carry out community health education activities. Before and after the health education activities, questionnaire surveys on health education of drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis prevention knowledge were conducted among 30-50 students of grade 5 in the central primary school and 15-30 housewives lived near the schools in each township (town). Comparative analysis of the effects of health education activities was carried out.Results:The total awareness rates of prevention and treatment of drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis in students of grade 5 and housewives were 89.55% (28 164/31 452) and 86.61% (14 976/17 292) after the intervention, respectively, which were significantly higher than those before the intervention [53.40% (16 518/30 933) and 51.88% (8 925/17 202)], and the differences were statistically significant (χ 2=1 586.16, 4 886.16, P < 0.05). Among the primary school students and housewives, the knowledge awareness rates of prevention and treatment of drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis were increased by 36.15% and 34.73%, respectively. Conclusions:After implementation of drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis health education intervention, the awareness rates of prevention and treatment knowledge in primary school students and housewives in Gansu Province are significantly increased. However, there are still weakness such as shortage of primary health education staff and insufficient investment in work funds, which means we can further expand the scope of health education.