Assessment of Health Education as a Tool in Improving the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices among Child “Bulilit” Health Workers on Leptospirosis

ABSTRACT

Background: In the Philippines, approximately 14 per 100,000 become affected with leptospirosis. A spike of 60% in leptospirosis case in the National Capital Region during January 2018 to July 2018 alone. Worldwide, it was estimated that 500,000 severe cases of Leptospirosis occur yearly. Health prevention is an inexpensive way to prevent diseases, and in such, the health sectors tapped the community workers in aiding in information dissemination. There have been many health workers and even including the young population worldwide. In the Philippines, the term "Bulilit” means child, hence the name Bulilit health workers . Most studies done on evaluation of health education in prevention of diseases focused on other diseases. Data with the use of KAP tool in Leptospirosis and more so on younger population are scarce, hence this study.

Objective: To assess health education as a tool in improving the knowledge, attitude and practices among bulilit health workers on leptospirosis.

Design: A prospective cross-sectional analytical study was used.

Settings: The study was done in a public grade school in Manila

Participants: Bulilit Health Workers of a public school in Manila were the participants of the study Interventions: A PowerPoint lecture regarding leptospirosis was given.

Main Outcome Measures: Pretest questionnaire was given followed by the lecture, after which, a post-test questionnaire was done. Statistical method used was paired t-test.

Results: Participants were ages 7-11 years, with almost equal distribution between male and female. Majority go to school by riding a vehicle. The television is the most common source of information. There was an increase in the mean scores comparing the baseline to the post test scores (p=<0.0001). The total mean score for knowledge regarding leptospirosis is 86.36% for the pretest and 95.45% to post-test; for attitude 71.33% and 78.67%; and 82.9% and 88.33% for practices.

Conclutions: There is a significant improvement in knowledge, attitude and practices for leptospirosis after an informative lecture among the Bulilit Health Workers. Therefore, health education even on younger subjects can improve knowledge, attitude and practices towards Leptospirosis.