The Impact of Public Health Workers’ Strikes on School Health Programs Management In Chuka South Sub-County, Kenya.
Keywords:
Immunization, school immunization programs, public health workers, school health programs, management.Abstract
Abstract
School immunization programs are organized public health initiatives designed to protect school-going children from vaccine-preventable diseases, by providing routine vaccinations in school settings. Immunization against common childhood diseases is an important strategy as it is critical for reducing the global child morbidity and mortality. The programs are normally a partnership between public health and education systems, and they often include a combination of routine vaccinations, catch-up vaccinations, and vaccinations in response to outbreaks. However, frequent public health workers' strikes have continued to disrupt the management of these preventive services, particularly in primary schools in rural areas. The study investigated the impact of public health workers’ strikes on the management of school immunization programs in preventing infectious diseases and reducing risk factors among primary school going children in Chuka South Sub-County, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methods to gather data. The population for the study was 600 subjects, comprising 250 health workers, 200 teachers and 150 head teachers. The sample size for the study was 240 respondents, comprising 100 public health workers, 60 teachers and 80 head teachers. Findings illustrated that public health workers strike do not significantly affect the management of the school immunization and disease prevention programs in public primary schools in Chuka South Sub-County. The study recommended advocacy for policies that designate immunization as one of the health services in schools to manage any emerging cases during health workers strike, while addressing workers' grievances through dialogue.
School immunization programs are organized public health initiatives designed to protect school-going children from vaccine-preventable diseases, by providing routine vaccinations in school settings. Immunization against common childhood diseases is an important strategy as it is critical for reducing the global child morbidity and mortality. The programs are normally a partnership between public health and education systems, and they often include a combination of routine vaccinations, catch-up vaccinations, and vaccinations in response to outbreaks. However, frequent public health workers' strikes have continued to disrupt the management of these preventive services, particularly in primary schools in rural areas. The study investigated the impact of public health workers’ strikes on the management of school immunization programs in preventing infectious diseases and reducing risk factors among primary school going children in Chuka South Sub-County, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methods to gather data. The population for the study was 600 subjects, comprising 250 health workers, 200 teachers and 150 head teachers. The sample size for the study was 240 respondents, comprising 100 public health workers, 60 teachers and 80 head teachers. Findings illustrated that public health workers strike do not significantly affect the management of the school immunization and disease prevention programs in public primary schools in Chuka South Sub-County. The study recommended advocacy for policies that designate immunization as one of the health services in schools to manage any emerging cases during health workers strike, while addressing workers' grievances through dialogue.
