Knowledge of School Health Programme among Public Primary School Teachers in Oyo State, South-Western Nigeria: A Rural- Urban Comparative Study

Teachers are in a vantage position to facilitate positive health among school-age children through the School Health Programme (SHP). Lack of basic knowledge of the programme among them will hinder its effective implementation. Studies to gauge teachers’ knowledge of SHP are needed to improve the current suboptimal level of implementation in Nigeria. This study was conducted to assess and compare the knowledge of SHP among public primary school teachers in rural and urban areas of Oyo State, South-west Nigeria. A comparative cross-sectional survey was conducted among teachers in selected rural and urban public primary schools using a 2-stage cluster sampling technique. Knowledge scores were computed giving minimum and maximum obtainable scores of 0 and 33 respectively. Respondents were reported as having inadequate knowledge if aggregate score was <16.5 and adequate if ≥16.5. Associations were tested using Chi-square and t-test for qualitative and quantitative variables respectively at p=0.05. Majority (84.6%) of the teachers had inadequate knowledge of SHP with similar proportions in the rural (84.2%) and urban (84.9%) schools. Higher proportions of those aged ≥40 years, that were ever married and had 2 qualifications had adequate knowledge compared with their counterparts (p<0.05). Majority of the teachers had inadequate knowledge of SHP. Further study to assess teachers’ training in SHP is needed. This may inform training intervention to upgrade their knowledge of the programme in the study area. (Afr J Reprod Health 2015; 19[3]: 55-60). Keywords: School-age children, Effective implementation, Adequate knowledge, Positive health Les enseignants sont dans une position avantageuse pour faciliter la santé positive chez les enfants d'âge scolaire par le biais du programme de santé à l’école (PSE). Le manque de connaissances de base sur le programme parmi eux va entraver sa mise en oeuvre effective. Il faut des études pour jauger les connaissances des enseignants de PSE à fin d’améliorer le niveau sous-optimal de la mise en oeuvre actuelle au Nigeria. Cette étude a été menée pour évaluer et comparer la connaissance de PSE au sein des enseignants des écoles primaires publiques dans les zones rurales et urbaines de l'État d'Oyo, au sud-ouest du Nigeria. Une étude comparative transversale a été menée auprès des enseignants dans les écoles primaires publiques rurales et urbaines sélectionnées à l’aide d’une technique d’échantillonnage en grappes à 2 étages. Les scores de connaissance ont été calculés, ce qui a donné des scores obtenus minimaux et maximaux de 0 et 33, respectivement. Les interviewés ont été considérés comme ayant une connaissance insuffisante si le score total était de <16,5 et adéquate s’il est de ≥16.5. Les associations ont été analysées à l'aide du chi carré et l’analyse t pour les variables qualitatives et quantitatives respectivement à p = 0,05. La majorité (84,6%) des enseignants avait une mauvaise connaissance du PSE avec des proportions semblables dans le milieu rural (84,2%) et (84,9%) des écoles urbaines. Des proportions plus élevées de personnes âgées de 40 ans et, qui aient jamais été mariés et ont eu 2 qualifications avaient une connaissance suffisante par rapport à leurs homologues (p <0,05). La majorité des enseignants avaient une connaissance insuffisante du PSE. Il faut une étude plus approfondie pour évaluer la formation des enseignants dans le PSE. Cela peut justifier l'intervention de la formation afin d'améliorer leurs connaissances du programme dans la zone d'étude. (Afr J Reprod Health 2015; 19[3]: 55-60).Mots-clés: enfants d'âge scolaire, mise en oeuvre efficace, connaissance adéquate, santé positiv

Occupational exposure, attitude to HIV-positive patients and uptake of HIV counselling and testing among health care workers in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Health care workers (HCWs) are at risk of occupational exposure to HIV. Their attitude to HIV-positive patients influences patients’ willingness and ability to access quality care. HIV counselling and testing (HCT) services are available to inform HCWs and patients about their status. There is little information about HCT uptake and attitude to HIV-positive patients among HCWs in tertiary health facilities in Nigeria. The aim of this study was to determine occupational exposure and attitude to HIV-positive patients and level of uptake of HCT services among HCWs in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. A cross-sectional design was utilized. A total of 977 HCWs were surveyed using semi-structured, self-administered questionnaires. Nurses and doctors comprised 78.2% of the respondents. Their mean age was 35 ± 8.4 years. Almost half, 47.0%, reported accidental exposure to blood and body fluids (BBFs) in the preceding year. The main predictor of accidental exposure to BBFs in the last year was working in a surgical department, OR = 1.7, 95% CI (1.1–2.6). HCWs aged 5 years, OR = 3.6, 95% CI (1.4–9.3) and who work in nursing department, OR = 6.8, 95% CI (1.7–27.1) were more likely to be exposed to BBFs. Almost half, 52.9%, had accessed HCT services. Predictors for HCT uptake were age 5 years OR = 1.5, 95% CI (1.03–2.2) and working in medical department OR = 1.7, 95% CI (1.1–2.8). Respondents in nursing departments were more likely to require routine HIV test for all patients, OR = 3.9, 95% CI (2.4–6.2). HCWs in the laboratory departments were more likely to believe that HIV patients should be on separate wards, OR = 3.6, 95% CI (1.9–7.0). HCWs should be protected and encouraged to access HCT services in order to be effective role models in the prevention of HIV/AIDS