We oversaw first and second rounds of HBV vaccinations in both urban and rural schools. We observed best practices of vaccination administration in all cases. The education program uses a top-down strategy to relay the necessary HBV information to the students. First, teaching seminars are held by local CDC officials for the school principals and health teachers. Second, health teachers use this information to teach the students. At the completion of this program, HBV will be integrated into Qinghai’s health education curriculum. We developed a handout for CDC officials and school principals and health teachers that explains the extent of the HBV problem in China and Qinghai Province; the goals of this program; basic information about HBV; and suggested tools for teaching children about HBV. We oversaw the production of educational posters for schools and calendars for the students to take home. We created a survey appropriate for elementary school-aged children. Four questions test the students’ knowledge of basic HBV information:
A. Where in the body does HBV attack? (Answer: Liver.)
B. How is HBV not transmitted? (Answer: Through food.)
C. How can you protect yourself from Hepatitis B for life? (Answer: Through vaccination.)
D. How many shots are there in the Hepatitis B vaccination? (Answer: 3.)
A. Where in the body does HBV attack? (Answer: Liver.)
B. How is HBV not transmitted? (Answer: Through food.)
C. How can you protect yourself from Hepatitis B for life? (Answer: Through vaccination.)
D. How many shots are there in the Hepatitis B vaccination? (Answer: 3.)
In Haidong district, we observed pilot teaching seminars attended by teachers and by students. Through pre- and post-education surveys, we found that students averaged a 40% gain in HBV knowledge. Therefore, this top-down teaching strategy is effective in disseminating HBV knowledge. To establish the baseline level of Hepatitis B knowledge among students in Qinghai, we administered a round of pre-education surveys at schools in Ming He county of Haidong district and Golmud city of Haixi district. Though students have good knowledge of where the virus attacks and how many shots there are, they have poor knowledge of how HBV is transmitted and how they can be protected from HBV for life.
As the project has progressed, we have learned that it is important to work closely with the Asian Liver Center, the Beijing Foundation for Hepatitis B Prevention and Control, and the Qinghai CDC. Being in the field has been a crucial component to the success of this program. Without overseeing first- hand the progress of this project, we could not have produced an educational program that is effective for the scope of this year’s project. Next year, we will oversee the third round of vaccinations. By the end of May 2008, all students in Qinghai will have been educated by school health teachers. Beginning in April, we will administer post-education surveys at randomly chosen schools throughout Qinghai. In addition, we will personally give two separate 45-minute teaching seminars to schools in Haidong district, using results from these schools as a baseline to compare the effectiveness of the top-down education program.
As the project has progressed, we have learned that it is important to work closely with the Asian Liver Center, the Beijing Foundation for Hepatitis B Prevention and Control, and the Qinghai CDC. Being in the field has been a crucial component to the success of this program. Without overseeing first- hand the progress of this project, we could not have produced an educational program that is effective for the scope of this year’s project. Next year, we will oversee the third round of vaccinations. By the end of May 2008, all students in Qinghai will have been educated by school health teachers. Beginning in April, we will administer post-education surveys at randomly chosen schools throughout Qinghai. In addition, we will personally give two separate 45-minute teaching seminars to schools in Haidong district, using results from these schools as a baseline to compare the effectiveness of the top-down education program.
