A Study on the Present Condition and Reform Plan of School Health in a Rural Area

한 농촌지역 학교보건의 현황과 개선방안에 관한 연구

This research has incorporated a postal survey from the principals, nurse-charging teachers and nurse-teachers of the fiftyfive elementary, middle and high school in Yang-pyeong county area where its supplementary rate of nurse-teachers is less than adequate. It is to analyse the current status of the school health service in the area and to come out with a plan to improve the school health program through the participations of the health related experts of the local community. The survey was done in the two months of period of April to May of 1994. The result of the survey follows. The student population in the Yang-pyeong county area is 13,998 and the school employee population is 904 which counts for about 19.2% of the whole population of the area. However, the supplementary rate of nurse-teachers is only 10.8% (4 in 55 schools) which is very low in terms of relativity. School health committee only exist in 17% of the whole number of schools in the area and 50 of school health committee answered that their activity do not meet the adequate level. Only 54. 3% of the whole school numbers has included the school health finance in their financial plans and the amount set for the school health finance is about 500,000 wons (100,000-1,600,000 wons). 64.9% of the schools in the Yang-pyeong county area have the permanent nursing room established in the school. But, often than the equipment for a simple physical examinations, their supply of the health related equipments are less than adequate. Particitations of school doctor in the school health service is at only 67.6% which pretty much include only the physical examinations. Nurse-charging teachers consider their utmost important role is to teach health education but, they answered that they spent most of their times and efforts on physical examinations & immunizations. The average number of students visition to the nursing room is 2.5 persons and complains for basic discomfort as headache, concussion, stomachache and indigestion problems and usual pills used are the analgesics and digestives. Physical examination is done in the most schools every year but, 51.4% of nurse-charging teachers answered the physical examination does not really help. About the emergency treatment ability, 75.7% reports that both manpower & equipment are short. The school food services are present in only 8 schools (21.6%) but, 89.2% of nurse-charging teachers answer that there is a definite need of the food service. The survey says that the utmost important environmental health and safety factors are the traffic accidents followed by improper heat system, lighting, the stools and desks that do not consider the student physical status The overall evaluation of school health program reports that there are adequate physical examination, immunization, environmental hygiene, and management of safety but, on the other hand, health education, health councelling & management of nursing room are not managed properly. The principals of the survey pool report shortage of public agency support, lack of understanding of school health, shortage of nursing equipments and school health finance as the barrier factors of school health. The nurse-charging teachers report on the same questions as their less than qualitifying expertise, extraload of work upon the nursing affairs, shortage of nursing equipments & school health finance. The head masters & nurse-charging teachers answered that they are desperate for the meetings of nurse-charging teachers, construction of school health councelling system & training education in order to improve school health and if these are available, they will actively participate in them. After the careful analysis of the survey result, it is apparent that through the relations of the manpowers, establishment of community-oriented school health is definitely in need in rural area where there is low supplementary rate of nurse-teachers and poor school health environment.