Njomo Doris W, Kairu Cynthia, Masaku Janet, Mwende Faith, Odhiambo Gladys, Musuva Rosemary, Matey Elizabeth, Thuita Isaac G, Kihara Jimmy H
Eastern and Southern African Centre for International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
East Afr Health Res J. 2019;3(1):57-64. doi: 10.24248/EAHRJ-D-18-00028. Epub 2019 Jul 30.
Primary school teachers are key stakeholders in the success of school-based deworming activity as they are responsible for drug administration and provision of health education to the School-Age Children (SAC). In Kenya, the National School-Based Deworming Programme (NSBDP) for control of soil-transmitted helminths and schistosomiasis was initiated in the year 2012 in prioritised areas. By the year 2013, over 6 million SAC had been treated. The present study sought to assess the teachers' perceptions and experiences of the school-based deworming activity in an effort to improve programme effectiveness.
Qualitative data were collected, using in-depth interviews, in 4 subcounties of the coastal region of Kenya. Using purposive selection, 1 primary school teacher from each of the 38 schools also purposively selected participated in the study. The data were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded and analysed manually by study themes which included: reason for being selected for training to administer drugs; perceptions of training content and duration; experiences during drug acquisition, administration and record-keeping and motivation to continue participating in the deworming of school-age children.
Half of the teachers indicated that they were selected to administer drugs to children as they were responsible for school health matters. The duration and content of the training were considered sufficient, and no challenges were faced during drug acquisition. Challenges faced during drug administration included non-compliance and experience of side effects of the drugs. No major problems were experienced in record-keeping, although the teachers felt that the forms needed to be simplified. Improvement of the children's health and class performance was reported as a source of motivation to the teachers to continue administering the drugs. Fellow teachers were reported to have given moral support while over half of the respondents indicated that parents did not provide much support.
Generally, teachers have positive experiences and perceptions of the deworming activity. There is, however, a need to involve all stakeholders especially the parents through the school board of management to help counter non-compliance and possibly support in providing meals to the children to help minimise side effects after drug consumption. Inadequate moral support and incentives are negative factors on the teachers' motivation.
小学教师是学校驱虫活动成功的关键利益相关者，因为他们负责给药并为学龄儿童提供健康教育。在肯尼亚，2012年在优先地区启动了控制土壤传播蠕虫和血吸虫病的全国学校驱虫计划（NSBDP）。到2013年，已有超过600万学龄儿童接受了治疗。本研究旨在评估教师对学校驱虫活动的看法和经验，以提高计划的有效性。
在肯尼亚沿海地区的4个次级县，通过深入访谈收集定性数据。采用目的抽样法，从38所学校中也有目的地挑选出1名小学教师参与研究。数据进行了录音、转录、编码，并按研究主题进行人工分析，这些主题包括：被选中接受药物管理培训的原因；对培训内容和时长的看法；药物采购、给药和记录保存过程中的经验，以及继续参与学龄儿童驱虫工作的动力。
一半的教师表示，他们被选中给儿童给药是因为他们负责学校的卫生事务。培训的时长和内容被认为是足够的，在药物采购过程中没有遇到挑战。给药过程中面临的挑战包括不依从和药物副作用的体验。记录保存方面没有遇到重大问题，不过教师们觉得表格需要简化。据报告，儿童健康和课堂表现的改善是教师继续给药的动力来源。据报告，同事给予了精神支持，而超过一半的受访者表示家长没有提供太多支持。
总体而言，教师对驱虫活动有积极的体验和看法。然而，有必要让所有利益相关者参与进来，特别是通过学校管理委员会让家长参与进来，以帮助应对不依从问题，并可能支持为儿童提供膳食，以尽量减少服药后的副作用。精神支持和激励不足是影响教师积极性的负面因素。
