Gaps in hygiene promotion at schools in Pakistan: Qualitative descriptive research

Authors

Nousheen Akber Pradhan, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Fatima Haider, Indus Hospital and Health Network
Umerdad Khudadad, Aga Khan University
Muhammad Asim, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Asma Akbar Ladak, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Iqbal Shagufta, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Areesh Mevawalla, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Uswah Siddiqi, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Tazeen Saeed Ali, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Rozina Karmaliani, Aga Khan UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Department

Community Health Sciences; Emergency Medicine; Medical College Pakistan; School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan

Abstract

School health remains an ignored domain in Pakistan. This article presents gaps in understanding hygiene promotion efforts in school settings in urban squatter settlements by exploring perspectives of the key stakeholders and undertaking a review of the education curriculum. Using qualitative methodology, 13 in-depth interviews were held with the key informants (teachers, health and education officers) and three focus group discussions were conducted with 36 mothers. The study setting includes three schools located in a semi-urban area in the province of Sindh, Pakistan. The semi-structured guide was utilized to obtain perspectives of key stakeholders on factors constraining hygiene promotion efforts in school settings. The primary education curriculum was reviewed using the content analysis approach to assess the integration of hygiene concepts into the curriculum. Analysis of qualitative interviews and curriculum review resulted in five categories under a theme that addressed multiple factors constraining hygiene promotion in the school settings. These include (i) Gaps in the school curriculum, (ii) Poor accountability of the local administration in the upkeep of schools, (iii) Parent's negligence toward children's hygiene, (iv) Inadequate training of school teachers on hygiene concepts, and (v) Lack of interdepartmental coordination between health and education sectors. Hygiene promotion at schools has been deterred by multiple factors at the selected primary schools in Pakistan. Recommended actions include integration of health and hygiene concepts into the education curriculum, capacity building of teachers, reviving water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, coordination among Education and Health Departments and ownership among the local government to ensure cleanliness at schools.

Comments

Volume, issue, and pagination are not provided by the author/publisher

Publication (Name of Journal)

Health promotion international

Recommended Citation

Pradhan, N. A., Haider, F., Khudadad, U., Asim, M., Ladak, A. A., Shagufta, I., Mevawalla, A., Siddiqi, U., Ali, T. S., Karmaliani, R. (2022). Gaps in hygiene promotion at schools in Pakistan: Qualitative descriptive research. Health promotion international.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_chs_chs/1009