Control and prevention of parasitic diseases among school children and their mothers in rural area

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was to assess knowledge and health habits needs of the school children and their mothers regarding controlling and preventing of the intestinal parasitic diseases, plan and implement an educational health program for school children and their mothers according to their needs, data obtained and reviewing literature and evaluate the effect of the health educational program on the knowledge and health habits practices of the school children and their mothers regarding controlling and preventing of the intestinal parasitic diseases. The study conducted into two areas, the parasitic outpatients clinics of the school health insurance hospital at the waiting areas, and field visits for 50% [50] of infected children's home for assessing their home environment in Benha city. A quasi experimental design was utilized to conduct the study. The study included [100] child with parasitic infection with their mothers. Three tools used for data collection, an interviewing questionnaire, to assess school children's and their mothers' socio-demographic data, children's knowledge, and health habits of children and their mothers, an observational checklist to assess the home environment of the infected children, and the medical record of the children that include the type of intestinal parasitosis according to stool analysis result. The findings showed that after implementation of the health education program there was a statistical significant improvement regarding the knowledge and health habits practices of the school children and their mothers regarding controlling and preventing of the intestinal parasitic diseases. The study recommended that, continuous health education for school children and their families based up on their needs regarding knowledge, healthy habits, and home environmental sanitation about control and prevention of the parasitic diseases