Investigation of Environmental Health Condition and Safety of Primary Schools in Gachsaran

Background & aim: School health, especially in primary schools, is important in that children spend an important period of their lives in school. The favorable school environment facilitates the academic performance of students. The aim of this study was to investigate the environmental health and safety status of primary schools in Gachsaran in 2017. Methods: The present descriptive-analytical study was conducted in the 2018-2017 academic year. Schools were surveyed by census, in which out of 42 schools, 37 primary schools in Gachsaran were willing to cooperate. The data collection tool (checklist) was the evaluation form of environmental health and safety regulations of the schools, the collected data were extracted from the checklists. These data were then analyzed using chi-square test and 95% confidence level. According to the results of the present study, only 3 schools (8.1%) were newly built (less than 15 years old). In terms of the proportion of Faucet to students, there was one drinking water for every 45 people in 18 schools (48.6%). Desks in twenty-six schools (70.3%) were in good condition. Thirty schools (81.1%) were not close to environmental and noise pollution sources, factories and cemeteries. Classrooms in seventeen schools (45.9%) did not have proper ventilation and cooling systems. a significant relationship was seen between public and private schools with cooling and ventilation systems (P=0.04). Based on the present results, the environmental health and safety status of primary schools in Gachsaran was not assessed as appropriate. These schools faced with shortcomings related to the building (such as being old or unsuitable location of the school building and the mismatch between the school area and the number of students), drinking fountains, toilets, benches, green space and ventilation and cooling system. These deficiencies require more attention from the authorities to improve the current situation.