Operational Model for Management of Anemia in Primary Students, Kaeng Khro District, Chaiyaphum Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research and development project were to 1) examine situations and problems in the management of anemia in primary students, 2) develop an operational model and 3) measure the results of the developed model. The study was consisted of 2 parts: qualitative and quantitative studies. In the qualitative study, 46 key informants were selected to provide information regarding the issues. In the quantitative study, thirty pairs of samples (primary students and their parents) were randomly selected through a multistage sampling techniques from the population of students with iron deficiency anemia. The sample size determined using G*Power version 3.1.9.4. Research instruments were consisted of 1) interview questions on situations and problems in the management of anemia in primary students, 2) a questionnaire for the development of the operational model, 3) a questionnaire to evaluate the appropriateness and satisfactions of the developed model, and 4)  students’ hematocrit record form. Quantitative data were analyzed using percentages, means, standard deviations and dependent t-tests. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.

The results showed that there were 51.22 percent of primary students in Kaeng Khro district received screening. Within this group, there were 39.60 percent were found having anemia and 22.94 percent received treatments. The existing measures were not fully coverage among students and the measures were not clear. The developed model were consisted of 4 steps: 1) planning, 2) screenings according to the guidelines, 3) trainings, and 4) health promotion. The developed model was appropriate for use at a very high level (±SD=4.52±0.22). Before the implementation of the model, students’ average hematocrit was at 31.67 percent while after the implementation the hematocrit significantly increased by 3.08 percent to 34.75 percent with significance level of 0.05 (p=0.01). Parents’ food care behaviors before using the model were at a moderate level (±SD=3.09±0.37) while after the program, their behaviors significantly improved to a very high level (±SD=4.53±0.16) with significance level of 0.05 (p-value=0.03). The samples reported having a high level of satisfaction using the model (±SD=4.05±0.32).