The Situation of School Health Teachers in Thailand - สถานการณ์ครูอนามัยในประเทศไทย

Abstract

          The objective of this cross-sectional descriptive research was to study the situation of health performance practiced by health teachers in schools. Four hundred and forty set of questionnaire were sent directly between August and October 2009 to the school health teachers all over Thailand selected by simple random sampling. Only 237 (53.9 %) participants responded. Statistically descriptive data and conclusion of content were used to elicit themes. The study results showed that all subjects of this survey hold the position of teacher with their responsibility of school health activities. Almost all (99.2 %) schools were public. Most (72.2%) of the teachers’ educational background were bachelor’s degree in non health science. The average year of the school health teacher’s role was 4.9, 2.26 years. Their responsibilities in school health teacher’s role were 1) Teaching, average 19.1 hours/week. 2) Their responsibility for student’s health included 2.1) taking care for the sick (96.2%) 2.2) for referring students to be diagnosed and appropriately treated (94.5 %) 2.3) coordinating with public health workers for physical examination (87.8 %) 2.4) Health examinations of students (80.6 %) 2.5) health education (78.5 %). The three main opinions from the teachers were 1) workshop training in school health services, 2) providing health personal working for school health activity at the school, 3) having appropriate health media resources. In conclusions, it would be necessary to develop the school health teachers to strengthen their potential by training in all aspects of school health activities.

Key words: health teachers, school health activity