Evaluation of knowledge attitude and practice among primary school teachers regarding eye health

Abstract

Aim: To assess the awareness and knowledge level regarding eye diseases among primary school teachers and to determine attitudes and practices of teachers’ regarding pupils’ ocular health.

Study design: This study was done using descriptive cross sectional study design.

Study duration and settings: This study was conducted during six-month i-e from July 2021 to December 2021. Four primary schools in Peshawar were visited for data collection. The study was conducted on a total of fifty-three (53) primary school teachers (PST) who were teaching up to grade 5.

Methodology: Pretested questionnaire was used to collect the participant’s data. The data collection tool used comprised of four sections. First section gathers participant’s demographic data, second section was for assessment of teacher’s awareness and knowledge level, along with their perceptions of school eye health services and sources of their information. Third section was about attitudes of teacher’s regarding pupil’s eye health while fourth section was about their practices if they found any feature that can cause visual impairment in children.

Results: Result showed that out of 53 total study participants of mean age 35 years, mean percentage awareness was 65.8%, knowledge regarding all aspects was found to be high among all participants except for corneal scarring. 54.7% and 60.4% had positive attitudes towards prevention and treatment of blindness. 60.4% participants marked parent alertness while 39.6% have showed that they will refer the child to an eye specialist.

Conclusion: Primary school teachers should be trained to have adequate awareness and knowledge to assess the defective ocular symptoms among children. More Innovative strategies are required to intensify the eye health as an important component of educational institutions and school health services.