Contributions Of Health Education To Oral Health Practices Among Physically Challenged Pupils In Public Special Primary Schools In Kisumu County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to establish the contributions of Health Education (HE) to Oral Health Practices (OHP) among the Physically Challenged Pupils (PCPs) in Public Special Primary Schools (PSPS) in Kisumu County, Kenya. The objectives were to; determine oral health practices among the PCPs who study HE in PSPS, establish contributions of HE to Oral Health Practices among PCPs in PSPS, identify Oral Health (OH) challenges faced by PCPs who study HE in PSPS and to determine HE strategies put in place by the PSPS to address challenges in OHP among the PCPs. The study was guided by a theoretical framework adapted from Albert Bandura’s (1978) Social Learning Theory (SLT) and a conceptual framework showing the relationship between oral health contents in the primary school HE unit, intervening factors and identified oral health practices. Descriptive survey research design was adopted. Target population comprised of 925 people; 790 PCPs, 40 teachers, 87 parents and 8 caregivers drawn from 5 PSPS for Physically Challenged Pupils in Kisumu County, Kenya. Purposive Sampling technique was used to select 83 PCPs, 29 class teachers and 9 parents. All the caregivers participated in the study due to their small population. Data collection instruments included; FGD guidelines, a questionnaire, structured interview schedules and a customised journal. Validity of instruments was ascertained by experts from the Department of Educational Foundations at Kenyatta University. Piloting study was done among 37 pupils, 2 parents, 4 class teachers and one caregiver using test-retest method. Reliability coefficient index of 0.9 was obtained showing that the instruments were reliable. Data was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative statistical methods. The findings revealed that the most frequent OH practices included tooth brushing (80.47% responses) and rinsing the mouth with water at least once per day (85.22% responses) among the PCPs. The least performed practice was visit to dentist (5.42% responses) despite higher occurrences of tooth pain (43.35% responses). It was found that teacher centred HE lessons denied PCPs opportunity to practice learnt skills. Challenges found include; inadequate time for OH practices, lack of supervision and negative attitude towards OH care. Strategies to reduce challenges included; clear rules, organised OH talks and solicited donations of OH care items. The study concluded that; severity of disability limited operationalization of knowledge and skills besides compounding negative attitudes of the PCPs towards OH practices taught. However, it was evident that HEC content had relevant information which contributed to the improved oral health practices among PCPs as they progressed from class 7 to 8. The study recommends that teachers should be in-serviced on HE content and the course be a core unit for trainees. Lastly the government should provide adapted OH facilities like toothbrushes to PCP as routine OH examinations are organised by the PSPS.