Effectiveness of a health education intervention on the knowledge, attitude and practices of teachers regarding physical and psychosocial health of adolescents in Amritsar, Punjab

Abstract

Background: Adolescents undergo the transition period of adolescence with little knowledge of body’s impending physical, physiological and psychological changes. After parents, teachers have maximum opportunity to support and educate adolescents. This study attempts to study effectiveness of health education on knowledge, attitude and practices of teachers regarding physical and psychosocial health of adolescents.Methods: The study was started with 155 teachers (teaching class 9th -12th) who willingly participated from 50 senior secondary schools of Amritsar district. After taking informed consent, teachers filled a pretested questionnaire which was followed by an interactive session on adolescent health. To study impact of health education, they were again administered same questionnaire after a period of 3 months. Statistical analysis was on Microsoft Excel, Chi square test, SPSS.Results: Maximum 74 (47.7%) teachers were aware of psychosocial problems of adolescents as compared to the physical and sexual problems. Only 11 (7.1%) teachers had adequate knowledge about changes occurring during adolescence. Majority 125 (80.6%) of teachers had no knowledge regarding height and weight gained during adolescence and more than 2/3rd [110 (71%)] of teachers were unaware of daily calorie and protein requirements. Only 28 (18.1%) had adequate knowledge about drug abuse. After intervention significant favourable changes were observed in their knowledge, attitude and practices regarding most of above mentioned topics.Conclusions: Overall knowledge of teachers in most aspects of adolescent health was found to be low, however significant favourable changes were observed after health education was provided to them.