Developing the Participatory Education Program for Dengue Prevention and Control in the Primary School, Southern Region, Thailand

Abstract

Dengue disease had been the significant health problem of the primary school in southern Thailand. The objective was to develop the participatory program for dengue prevention and control in five primary schools. Participatory action research (PAR) was applied in five steps: 1) preparation, 2) assessment, 3) education program development, 4) implementation and 5) evaluation. Data collection used quantitative and qualitative methods in five primary schools in Southern, Thailand. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square (χ 2 ) test were used to compare between pre- and post-intervention. Larval Indices were obtained from ratio analysis. The results showed the participatory program consisted of nine important activities for all stakeholders involving dengue problem. Health teacher’s activities and student’s activities were eight activities consisted of knowledge training, dengue manual, Computer Assisted Instructor (CAI), test, dengue data, larval indices survey, fish bank, and herbal garden. The seven activities of health provider were knowledge training, dengue manual, CAI, testing, dengue data, larval indices survey, and larval indices program. Three activities for students’ parents included dengue manual, dengue data, and larval indices survey. The 290 students were participating activities in education program and increasing basic knowledge of dengue prevention and control. Comparing the number of correct answers, >80% of students between pre- and post-intervention were found to increase basic knowledge from five correct answers to ten, and of these six items were significantly different ( P < 0.001). The two primary schools were continuing non-positive containers (Container Index: CI = 0), but the total larval indices (Breteau Index: BI, House Index: HI, and Container Index: CI) of five primary schools showed high levels both pre- and post-intervention in primary schools; whereas, the students’ households showed high level of BI, HI and CI both pre- and post-intervention (754, 77, and 35 to 616, 81, and 32). Conclusion: The program was needed to continue in primary school and participate from health teacher, health provider, and students’ parents in order to be of great benefit for students.