THE IMPACT OF HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS ON KNOWLEDGE,ATTITUDES & PRACTICES OF BASIC SCHOOLS STUDENTS TOWARDS SCHISTOSOMIASIS IN, GULI AREA, KOSTI LOCALITY, WHITE NILE STATE, SUDAN.

*Dr. Mohamed Osman Elamin Bushara and Dr. Afaf Hamid Mohamed.

ABSTRACT

This was a quasi-experimental study conducted at Guli area, Kosti locality, White Nile State. The main objective of the study was to determine the effect of health education programs in increasing the knowledge, attitudes and practices among Guli basic school students towards Schistosomiasis. The population targeted for this Study comprised of School children, male & female in the selected villages, all the pupils were interviewed (intact sampling). The total number of interviewed children was 4046 school child from the seven schools in Guli area, the examined school children ranged between 5-19 years. The collected data were analyzed by using the SPSS package (Statistical Package for Social Sciences), the data depicted in tables and figures (pies).It has been resulted that the student's knowledge about Schistosomiasis increased to 98.6% and their practicing of bathing in canals, river were decreased to 51.6% for males and 36% for females, also students' attitudes and perceptions were changed as a result of the health education program The study recommended that there was a great need to conduct further researches needed in other similar areas infected by schistosomiasis, KAP studies should precede any control program efforts towards Schistosomiasis, in addition to that health education programs were needed to develop awareness towards Schistosomiasis in study area for the whole community members not only the targeted group.

Keywords: Schistomiasis, White Nile, Health Education