Knowledge and Practices of Eye Health Among School Health Attendants in Boarding High Schools in Nairobi County

Abstract

Background: The WHO report on vision notes that visually impaired school-age children may be affected in their academic pursuits and their self-esteem affected compared with their visually normal peers. Most causes of poor vision are preventable and treatable hence the need for early identification. School health attendants are key in promoting eye health in schools hence the importance of knowing their knowledge and practices. Study objective: To assess knowledge and practices of eye health among school health attendants in boarding high schools in Nairobi County. Methods Study design: Cross sectional study design Study population: School health attendants in all boarding high schools in Nairobi county were interviewed Data collection, analysis and presentation: Researcher’s designed interview questionnaire was used. Data collected was coded and analyzed using SPSS version 26 Ethical considerations: Approval from UON-KNH ethics committee and NACOSTI was sought and permission from ministry of education. Confidentiality of the participants was kept by not disclosing their details Results: A total of 76 school health attendants were enrolled and majority of them (60.5%) were nurses. All participants mentioned that they all attended to eye complaints. The topmost common complaint was itching (86.9%), and the most common management or treatment they gave was eye drops then referred if no improvement (67.1%). All participants would refer immediately a student with eye trauma. Eye medications were stocked in 93.4% of the participant’s schools and all of them stocked steroid eye drops. Conclusion and recommendations: Majority of school health attendants had appropriate knowledge on management of common eye problems however most health attendants did not have good practices of eye health. Ministry of health to ensure that all school health attendants have training and regular updates in eye health and eye medication use. Ministry of health to recommend an essential medical kit for schools that contains the necessary eye medications.