Awareness and attitudes towards infectious diseases among teachers and administrators: Evaluation of health-related school program and practices.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Schools play a crucial role in promoting health education and awareness about infectious diseases. This study aims to examine teachers' and administrators' awareness and attitudes towards infectious diseases and their specific health-related applications. METHODS: This study used a new scale to collect survey data from 435 teachers and administrators. The validity and reliability of the scale were assessed by factor analysis. Pearson correlation and regression analysis were conducted to explore the relationships between variables. T-tests and one-way ANOVA were employed for group comparisons. RESULTS: The findings revealed a concerning skepticism among a significant portion of participants towards the effectiveness of vaccines in ending epidemics and a lack of health education activities in schools. Significant differences were observed in the scores for physical measures, educational activities, awareness, observation, and attitudes based on school type and ownership of certificates (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the need for continuous education and awareness-raising efforts to develop sustainable school health practices. Integrating diverse health professionals into school health management teams can enhance health services in educational settings. The present study also emphasizes the importance of comprehensive health education in understanding infectious diseases, preventive measures, and proper hygiene practices.