Evaluation of a health education program on iodine deficiency disorders in Jiangsu Province / 中国地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effects of a health education project on prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders.Methods From January to June 2011,an investigation was conducted using combined unified questionnaire in 9 counties on target population,and 3 townships were chosen in each project county.Health educational activities were carried out in grade 5 classes in the central 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 educational activities,questionnaire surveys on knowledge of iodine deficiency disorders were conducted in each project county.Thirty students in one class of grade 5 in the central primary school were selected,and 15 women of childbearing age near the central primary school were selected too.The health education content included but not limited to:popular science films about the knowledge on endemic disease prevention and public-interest ads were broadcasted by radio,television,newspapers and other media in the project counties,aiming at spreading knowledge on prevention and treatment of endemic diseases.In each of the project township government and village committee locations,posters,banner pieces and slogan suspensions about knowledge on endemic disease prevention were posted or put up.In the project rural hospitals,a special bulletin boards was set up,and in the village clinics (rooms),posters were put up,to carry out a training program for women of childbearing age on endemic disease prevention.In primary schools,students in grades 4 to 6 were given a class about knowledge on prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency disorders,aiming at their transferring the learned knowledge to family members.Results A total of 2678 persons were investigated before and after the health education.After health education,the rate of knowledge(the correct answer rate) on iodine deficiency disorders increased from 69.04％ (1920/2781) to 94.08％ (2622/2787,x2 =580.63,P ＜ 0.05) among primary school students,and 74.76％(924/1236) to 92.60％(1139/1230,x2 =143.59,P ＜ 0.05) among women of childbearing age.Conclusions The rate of knowledge awareness in the students and the women of childbearing is increased significantly after the health educational activities.Systematic and targeted health education activities are effective measures in prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders.