Development Of Comprehensive Evaluation System For Health And Safety Of Rural Boarding Schools

Objectives This thesis aims to describe overall health and safety situation in rural boarding schools, and to develop a new comprehensive evaluation method to assess different indicators more scientifically, objectively, fairly and conveniently,so as to find out key issues on school health and safety and provide evidence to health and education administrators which confirms evaluation and decision-making to improve sanitation level in rural boarding schools.Methods By using mixed quantitative and qualitative methods, a comprehensive evaluation system of rural boarding schools was developed. Two rounds of cross-sectional investigations were conducted. In first investigation, twenty five rural boarding schools were chosen from 5 counties as study sites. A total of 20 indicators covering classrooms, dormitories, canteens, drinking water, infirmaries and toilets were screened. In second round of investigation, twenty five boarding schools from another 5 counties to collect data on these 20 indicators. After excluding 11 non-represntive primary schools from the second investitgatio, indicators from 39 boarding schools were observed. Comprehensive evaluation theories and methods were introduced for the first time to make a multi-dimensional evaluation on various indicators. Weighted TOPSIS and RSR were used to set up a comprehensive model to evaluate health and safety level in rural boarding schools.Results It showed in first round of investigation that the eligible rate of space of classroom per capita was 69.0% and 29.2% respectively in primary schools and middle schools. The rate of environmental noise was 0. Rate of desk and chair was 14.5%(desk) and 14.3%(chair), respectively; rate of lighting coefficient was 21.3%; rate of dormitory space per capita was 6.1% and rate of toilet 48.0% for boys and 20.0% for girls, respectively. General conditions, layout, sanitary equipment, food handling and preservation, employees, health management of canteens didn't catch the national standard. By dividing the 39 rural boarding schools into 3 groups, ANOVA analysis showed that the differences of indicators among the three groups were statistical significant(p<0.05) and representation and differentiation of these indicators were good.Conclusions Health and safety status in rural boarding schools is not optimistic. It is necessary to strengthen government mobilization, pay more attention to health and safety in rural boarding schools and optimize health resource allocation, deepen health reform in rural areas to promote a constant, healthy and comprehensive development of school health. This study is just an attempt to explore comprehensive evaluation for health and safety in rural boarding schools. Its accuracy and scientific value need further testing compared with other assessing instruments and more evidence is required for its wide application. Schools should appropriately understand the significance of comprehensive evaluation and regulate health resources based on local practice.