The effect of participatory school health programme on the control of malaria

Abstract

Two hundred primary level school children, aged between 7 and 18 years took part in a comparative pilot study of the effect of participatory school health education in Kisumu, Western Kenya in 1988. An experimental cohort of 100 pupils had participatory health education versus a passive control of another 100. An initial KAP survey revealed comparable sociological variables as well as morbidity statistics. No significant change occurred on the knowledge of the disease between the groups after 3 months. However, positive change in attitude here determined by positive antimalarial practices, was observed more frequently in the experimental group than in the control group. Efforts to environmental manipulation increased by 69% vs 1%, while parasite rates decreased by 32% vs an increase of 5%, respectively. Similarly there was a decrease in absenteeism of 25% vs an increase of 5% between the groups. Clinical malaria was reported less frequently in the experimental group than the control (26% against 8%). In conclusion, this pilot study suggests that participatory approach in effective health education to school children should be investigated further to determine its potential in the intersectoral malaria control strategy.