Educational intervention on communicable diseases at the UNAH Experimental Educational Center

Abstract

To achieve the goals of the 2030 agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is essential to ensure a healthy life and promote universal well-being, however there are countries where living conditions favor the incidence and prevalence of certain diseases, including the transmissible ones; Honduras is considered a country where such diseases represent high loads of morbidity and mortality, mainly aff ecting the most vulnerable populations that are exposed to diff erent risk factors. Educational interventions are aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles, preventing diseases and improving the quality of life, being considered a fundamental pillar for health care. Diff erent studies have shown that the existence of health education intervention programs aimed at school children has a great impact on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of all family members, since schools are the largest socializing force in the extra-family life of minors. The objective of this is to show the increase in the level of knowledge that students and teaching staff have at the Experimental Educational Center (CEE) of UNAH, after the educational intervention on communicable diseases, during February to May 2019. He worked with a sample of 121 participants, consisting of the teaching staff, students of fourth, fi fth and sixth grade of the CEE of UNAH, who agreed to participate in the study by signing the informed consent, both teachers and parents, respectively. Three diff erent forms were used each containing 10 questions related to communicable diseases (Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI), Vector-Transmitted Diseases (VTE) and Acute Intestinal Infections (IIA)). The investigation was carried out in three stages: diagnosis, intervention and evaluation, applying the forms during diagnosis and evaluation, in each of the interventions. It was evidenced that before receiving the educational interventions the children and the school staff had knowledge about what an ARI, VTE, and IIA is, its symptoms, route of transmission, favoring factors and forms of prevention; and more importantly, an increase and strengthening in the knowledge that the participants already had was achieved post-intervention. On the other hand, both the students and the teaching staff responsible for the Public Health internship strengthened the practical and theoretical skills in training the population in health issues, specifi cally communicable diseases, which are highly prevalent and represent a serious problem of Public health in the country. Health promotion activities aimed at educators and future generations make a considerable contribution in the prevention of communicable diseases, therefore, the intervention carried out in the CEE of the UNAH was considered eff ective. Because a 10% increase in participants’ knowledge about Acute Respiratory Infections, Vector-borne Diseases and Acute Intestinal Infections was achieved.