Community perception of school-based deworming program in Sanliurfa, Turkey

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Health
• Parasitology

Background:

• School-based health programs are crucial for delivering interventions to children.
• Mass deworming programs using anthelmintics can significantly improve child health outcomes.
• Community perception is vital for the success and sustainability of public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate community perception of a School Based Health Program delivering anthelmintics to schoolchildren.
• To assess parental and teacher acceptance and support for the program.
• To identify challenges and facilitators for successful program implementation.

Main Methods:

• Community-based evaluation involving 144 parents and 140 teachers.
• Data collection through questionnaires, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews.
• Analysis of community attitudes towards the School Based Health Program and its components.

Main Results:

• Overwhelmingly positive community perception, with most parents and teachers reporting improvements in children's health and well-being.
• High approval rates for the program (99% parents, 98.4% teachers) and strong willingness to continue.
• Significant willingness among parents (75%) to pay for anthelmintic drugs.

Conclusions:

• The School Based Health Program was perceived as beneficial and highly acceptable by the community.
• Addressing challenges such as maternal education, family involvement, and overcoming mistrust is critical for program sustainability.
• Community engagement and education are essential to dispel misconceptions about medication and external funding.