Health education and incidence of water-borne diseases: a case of primary schools pupils in Dar es Salaam region

This study endeavored to explore the content of Health Education in relation to the incidence of water related diseases in fifteen primary schools in Dar es Salaam Region. Particularly, fifteen primary schools, five schools from each of the three selected wards (i.e. Makuburi in Kinondoni District, Mtoni in Temeke District and Gerezani in Ilala District) were visited. The sample constituted two teachers and 10 pupils from each of the selected primary schools. In total the study involved 180 respondents. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaires. The findings revealed that primary school pupils were to a reasonable degree taught about the important aspects pertaining to water borne diseases. They also indicated that pupils understood and, to a certain degree, put into practice the content of what they were taught concerning the said diseases. Furthermore, the study findings indicated that pupils got information about water borne diseases not only from their respective schools or classes, but also from other sources like the media, songs and dramas and relatives. Lastly, the study gives recommendations to primary school teachers, the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training and the Institute of Curriculum Development on matters related to improving the quality of what is taught in class about water borne diseases.