Prevalence of Communicable Diseases among children between 0-12 years in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State

Biological & Medical Sciences

Abstract Infectious or communicable diseases comprise clinically evident illness characteristic medical signs and/or symptoms of disease resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism. In certain cases, infectious diseases may be asymptomatic. School health programs could not be fully implemented without having staff, teachers, and parent's cooperation and involvement. This study evaluates various ways to eradicate communicable diseases in among children between 0-12 in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State. Specifically, the study sought answers to the level of teachers and parents’ awareness, the modes of transmitting communicable diseases, various health implications and possible programs for disease control among others. A descriptive study was carried out; the population of the study consisted 400 nursing mothers and teachers selected from five secondary schools in the study area (teachers 209, parents 191) whose children are between the age of 0-12years. Simple Random Sampling Technique was used to draw a sample size of 110 respondents for the research study. Questionnaire was designed for data collection which was sub-divided into two main parts: socio demographic characteristics and knowledge and attitudes about communicable disease. The findings of the study revealed among others that the majority of the respondent’s knowledge about communicable diseases was very poor and deteriorating. The study concluded that both the parents and teachers need continuing education programs about common communicable disease in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State. They need to be developed in the ways of preventing these diseases. Based on this findings, the study recommends among others that Screening, deworming and health education should necessarily be a component of the primary health care program with a focus on school children communicable diseases such as the Intestinal helminthes control program should focus more on health education, the need for proper disposal of faeces and good toilet facilities.

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