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Abstract Communicable diseases represent a major health problem among the primary school children. Preparation of the school health nurse in community health nursing assures that the nurse brings broad perspective toward meeting the health needs of the total school population. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge of the school health nurses about communicable diseases control among the primary school children. The sample comprised all nurses working in all primary schools in Assiut City. Their number amounted to 139. A questionnaire sheet was designed and used to collect the necessary informatio~. Data collection took four months (from January to the end of April 1989). D The main results of the study were: The age of school health nurses ranged from 26 years to above 40 years old. Almost all of the sample (97%) were married. Concerning the years of experience. the majority of the sample (83.9%) had more than 12 years while the rest Approximately one third (39%) of the sample was exposed to the training program. Assessment of the nurses’ knowledge about communicable diseases among the primary school children: In general. the nurses’ knowledge about communicable diseases and its symptoms and signs was poor. Concerning their knowledge about the discovery of cases. about one quarter of the sample (25%) said that this discovery must be done by the class teacher. approximately one half (45%) said that the discovery of cases must be done by the parents. As regard to the nurses’ knowledge about the importance of o student absenteeism. About one third (31%) of the sample stated that student absenteeism served the purpose of isolation and inspection of contacts while 11% said that the importance of the student absenteeism was to prevent dissemination of communicable diseases among the children. Regarding to the nurses’ knowledge about compulsory vaccination before school age. apprOXimately half of the sample (57.5%) succeeded to obtain the correct answer while the rest failed to obtain the correct answer and ranged between not correct answer (39%) and (3.5%) did not know. Regarding to the name of communicable diseases which affect the children. approximately three quarters of the sample recognized it well. while the majority of the sample failed to give the correct answer as regard to the source of infection for measles. whooping cough. chickenpox. typhoid. mumps, hepatitis (63%. 57%. 94.5%. 84%, 86% and 82%) respectively. |