School safety and children health in a post-disaster community: Implications for collaborative care and service learning in school health

Abstract

1 A statement of the problem The impact of a disaster on children’s health varies. However, little is known about impact of earthquake, striking in Lushan County on April 20th 2013, on children’s health and school’s environment in Sichuan Province of China.

2 Aim and Objectives The aim was to explore impact on school age children’s health and school’s learning environment following 2 months of the earthquake. The specific objectives were to collect children health information; and to identify school environmental health risks.

3 Methods This was an explorative single-case study. The case was defined as the two primary schools affected by the earthquake on 20th April, 2013 and relocated in a rebuilt temporary classroom. Data were collected through structured questionnaire, field observation, and the report from July 1 to 2 2013. They were analyzed by using descriptive analysis and qualitative content analysis.

4 Results One hundred and eight-seven school age children (male: 89 and female: 98) completed this study. It showed that around half of the subjects (89; 47.6%) were male. Majority were aged 10 or above (114; 61%). School environmental health and school buildings risks were identified in photos 1 to 9.

5 Conclusions and implications Baseline data for children’s health status was obtained and the school health risks identified. The findings suggested that university students can be benefited from creating an innovative service learning project to serve the community to reduce disaster health risks and enhance the health of children and school safety.