Role of health education in school-children with particular reference to malaria.

Knowledge and effect of health education in schoolchildren of primary, secondary and higher secondary classes were evaluated. In schoolchildren exposed to different health education activities such as live demonstrations, slide shows and when both events were grouped together a high average of correct score (47.88%) in comparison to that of control group (26.56%) was noticed. Exposed population could answer most of the questions correctly and supported the role of community participation with the help from Government Departments to control malaria. Involvement and role of schoolchildren in disease vector control programme is discussed in this paper.

Socio-economic aspects of malaria in Kheda district, Gujarat.

Study on the socio-cultural factors and economic loss due to malaria in rural and urban areas of Kheda district, Gujarat revealed that factors such as education, profession, income, housing pattern, social groups, water storage and treatment seeking behaviour play an important role in malaria transmission. However, the difference of these components in respect to malaria cases between rural and urban areas were statistically insignificant. Mean monetary loss per malaria episode was found to be more in urban area (Rs. 393.59) as compared to rural (Rs. 157.59). The study also suggests the importance of socio-cultural factors in implementing any community health programme. Health education is needed to make the people aware and health conscious for prevention of disease at their own level.