PDF
Published
2024-06-30
Section
Articles
License
Copyright (c) 2024 THIS IS AN OPEN ACCESS ARTICLE UNDER THE CC BY LICENSE http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The Medical Journal of Tikrit University is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which allows users to copy, create extracts, abstracts, and new works from the article, alter and revise the article, and make commercial use of the article (including reuse and/or resale of the article by commercial entities), provided the user gives appropriate credit (with a link to the formal publication through the relevant DOI), provides a link to the license, indicates if changes were made, and the licensor is not represented as endorsing the use made of the work. The authors hold the copyright for their published work on the MJTU website, while MJTU is responsible for appreciate citation of their work, which is released under CC-BY-4.0, enabling the unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction of an article in any medium, provided that the original work is properly cited.
Evaluation of school environmental health and safety indicators of public and private schools in Tikrit City
Classroom conditions and furniture
Marwa Waleed Khalil Khalil
Iraqi Ministry of Health
Nisreen Mohammed Ibrahim
Community Medicine Department, Tikrit University/ College of Medicine, Tikrit City, Salah Al-Deen Governorate, Iraq
Mayada Kamil Mohammed
Head of department, Community Medicine Department, Tikrit University/ College of Medicine, Tikrit City, Salah Al-Deen Governorate, Iraq
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25130/mjotu.30.1.4
Keywords: School environment, physical environment, health, safety
Abstract
Background: The school is a fundamental institution where intellectual knowledge, manual and behavioral skills, social connection, and the character of future generations have formed. Therefore identifying, managing, and preventing the adverse effects of environmental factors in schools impact the health of the present and future communities they are in. Subject, material, and method: This is a descriptive (cross-sectional) study done in Iraq, Salah Al-Deen Governorate, Tikrit City from the 17th of October, 2022 to the end of May 2023. The study sample was 30 schools (20 public and 10 private) out of 279 schools (252 public and 27 private), including 15 primary schools (five private and ten public) and 15 secondary schools (five private and ten public). A well-designed questionnaire was used to collect information about environmental health and safety indicators. Data was collected by researcher through direct observation and interviews with school manager or assistant in each school after pilot study. Result: The study found that proper school location away from hazards and proper area-to-student ratio in 16(53.3%) of schools. Proper schoolyards and sustainable gardens both meet standards in 14(46.7%) of schools. Suitable class size, ventilation, and lighting with class infrastructures in 19(63.3%) schools. Conclusion: The study revealed that 19(63.3%) schools in Tikrit City did not meet the health and safety standards regarding school classes and furniture while more than half of the schools 16(53.3%) were fully meeting the standards regarding school location and area. The schoolyard and garden were fully meeting the standards in 14 (46.7%) school.
