The Evaluation of Dengue Prevention and Control Program Implemented by Primary Schools According to Health-Promoting School Approach in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate processes and outcomes of dengue prevention and control project implemented in 2011 by primary schools according to the health-promoting school approach in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Nine out of 128 primary schools were randomly selected from 1 of the 4 Primary Educational Service Areas in the province. The respondents included 57 teachers and support staff purposively recruited and 217 students and their leaders randomly selected. Face-to-face interviews and larval surveys for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were carried out from October 2011 through March 2012.

The results showed that: Basic environmental factors of the schools were appropriate for

dengue prevention and control. In the implementation of the project in the schools, there was neither a committee nor a working group; the policy did not cover procedures; there were no plans; the supervision and monitoring/evaluation did not correspond with the guidelines and objectives of the project or the problems in each locality. However, the method of communicating the policy was appropriate and consistent with the way the students received the message about the project and activities. The project outputs were not as expected based on the strategy and policy: the Aedes larval indices in the schools were more than zero; no innovations for dengue prevention and control were found; few students did eliminate the larvae in their houses; the schools had a good quality solid waste management system operated by local government organizations; the piped water supply system was fine; and the school administrators as well as students were satisfied with the activities and facilities within the schools. It is suggested that relevant health agencies should support the dengue prevention and control activities in schools so that school administrators would pay more attention in such efforts.