Teachers' perception on the eye health in the school under public health perspective

Teachers’ Perception on the Eye Health in the School under Public Health Perspective.


Purpose: 1) The aim of this investigation is to recognize the behavior of teachers on the fundamental in relation to the students evidencing visual difficulties; 2) and apply information to be incorporated to the pedagogical practice in teacher’s courses or training for their work on Public Health and development of prevention practices related to eye health in the school. Method: A study was developed, descriptive – analytical – transversal, among teachers working on the fundamental in 23 public schools at Campinas / Brazil during the academic year of 2000. Data collection instrument was a self applied questionnaire. Results: Population was made of 68 teachers. Age average was 44 and teaching average 20.8 years. Data analysis showed that 55.9% of the teachers could identify students evidencing visual disturbances through visual acuity tests, signals and symptoms indicating visual difficulties. From this group, 84.2% provided orientation to the students and 63.2% oriented parents and family and also reported the facts to the school. Conclusion: Most of the teachers declared having identified students evidencing visual difficulties. Orientation provided to the students and family were the need to visit the ophthalmologist for a visual assessment and possible prescription for optical aids. In Brazil, due to socio-economical and cultural conditions children is rarely submitted to ophthalmologic assessment before engaging into the fundamental. Therefore is very important to have teachers trained to detect difficulties within his/her students when reading the board or reading and writing tasks. This ability is a relevant contribution to action on Public Health.