Status and Needs Assessment of Health Education in Child Daycare Centers

유아기 보건교육 실태와 보건교육 요구도

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to conduct assessments of health education status and needs in health education programs in child daycare centers. Methods: An 11-subject instrument was developed to assess health education for children. The Cronbach's alpha of the importance and implementation were found to be .904 and .862. A survey was conducted by mail using a sample of 337 teachers who were working in 71 child daycare centers in a district in Seoul. Results: 26.5% of the respondents reported that they teach health education regularly, and 19.3% of them reported never teach health education. Deficits of material, knowledge, and skill were the principal reasons for difficulties in health education. All of the respondents identified a need for health education, and also that health professionals are the most appropriate people to teach health education. The priorities of needed health education were, in order: sex education, information on community health, and mental health. Conclusion: Health education programs for preschoolers should be developed by health professionals. In health education programs, environmental health should be included, as well as health and illness education.