Abstract:

This intervention study was carried out to identify the impact of health education given to primary school students on their knowledge, attitude and practices related to health. The study was carried out on the students attending to 4–8thgrades of two primary schools in the provincial centre of Kayseri in 2009–2010 educational year. A total of 950 students, 408 students in the intervention group and 542 students in the control group were taken. A questionnaire prepared by the researchers and including 79 questions was applied to the students. Unpaired t test and chi-square tests were used for statistical analyses. It has been determined that the rates of the students who wash their hands when they get up in the morning, before and after the meal and after the toilet have increased in the post–education period in the intervention group. It was established that approximately 60% of the students had breakfast every day and the rate of having breakfast increased in the post–education period. Awareness rate of various infectious diseases and harmful habits such as smoking and alcohol increased in post–education period.It was concluded that knowledge, attitude and practices of the students related to personal hygiene, nutrition,prevention of the diseases and utilizing the health care services were insufficient. Knowledge, attitude and practices of the students can be changed in the positive direction through health education. Health education in the schools should be consistent and supported by the teachers’ practices

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